Callaici
Encyclopedia
The Gallaeci or Callaeci were a Celtic people who inhabited Gallaecia
, the region roughly corresponding to what is now Galicia, North of Portugal and Western Asturias
, through the Roman period. They spoke a Q-Celtic language
related to Celtiberian
, usually called Gallaic or Northwestern Hispano-Celtic
, and probably also Lusitanian
or some other Indo-European languages.
Archaeologically, they were the descents of local Atlantic Bronze Age
peoples (1300–700 BC). During the Iron Age
they received several influences, from Central and Western Europe (Hallstatt
and, to a lesser extent, La Tène culture
), and from the Mediterranean (Phoenicians and Carthaginians). The Gallaeci dwelt in hill forts (locally called castros), and the archaeological culture they developed is called "Castro culture
" (Hill-forts culture). They were finally annexed by Caesar Augustus during the Cantabrian Wars
, a war which initiated a period of assimilation into a Gallaecian-Roman culture.
The fact that the Gallaeci did not adopt writing until the first contacts with the Roman Empire
, makes the study of history previous to the first contacts with Romans
impossible. However, early allusions to this people are present in ancient Greek and Latin authors previous to the conquest, and it allows the reconstruction of a few historical events of this people since the second century BC
Thanks to Silius Italicus
, it's known that between the years 218 and 201 BC, during the Second Punic War
, some Gallaecian troops were involved in the fight in the ranks of Carthaginian Hannibal against the Roman army of Scipio Africanus
. Also Silius Italicus
added a short description of the Gallaecian contingent and their curious military tactics:
After Silius Italicus
, Appian of Alexandria
mentioned in his book Iberiké, the first military conflict known between Gallaeci and Romans. In it, Appian
narrates the events that occurred during the Lusitanian War
(155-139 BC), mentioning that this last year (139 BC), after being cheated by the Lusitanian
chief (Viriatus) the Quintus Servilius Caepio
's army devastated few Gallaecian and Vettonian
regions. The attack on these Southern Gallaecian peoples, probably in the modern Alto Douro (modern North of Portugal), near the border with Vettones
, had a character of punishment, due to the Gallaecian support to Lusitanians
.
These fortified villages tended to be located in the hills, rocky promontories and peninsulas surrounded on the sea, it improved its visibility, advocacy and the domain over territory. The location of these settlements was also studied to a better control of natural resources used by its inhabitants. The Gallaecian hillforts and oppidas maintain a great homogeneity, presenting evident commonalities.
Some Gallaecian tribes:
existed, in honour of the Castro people that settled in the area of Calle — the Callaeci, later the Roman Portus Calle, today's Porto
. Thus, a Roman province, known as Callaecia or Gallaecia
, was later created.
The names "Callaici" and "Calle" are the origin of today's: Gaia
, Galicia, and the "Gal" root in "Portugal", among many other placenames in the region.
or Gallaic was a Q-Celtic language or group of languages or dialects, closely related to Celtiberian, spoken at the beginning of our era in the north-western quarter of the Iberian Peninsula, more specifically between the west and north Atlantic coasts and an imaginary line running north-south and linking Oviedo and Mérida.[3][4] Just like it is the case for Illyrian or Ligurian languages, its corpus its composed by isolated words and short sentences contained in local Latin inscriptions, or glossed by classic authors, together with a considerable number of names – anthroponyms, ethnonyms, theonyms, toponyms – contained in inscriptions, or surviving up to date as place, river or mountain names. Besides, many of the isolated words of Celtic origin preserved in the local Romance languages could have been inherited from these Q-Celtic dialects.
Gallaecia
Gallaecia or Callaecia, also known as Hispania Gallaecia, was the name of a Roman province and an early Mediaeval kingdom that comprised a territory in the north-west of Hispania...
, the region roughly corresponding to what is now Galicia, North of Portugal and Western Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
, through the Roman period. They spoke a Q-Celtic language
Celtic languages
The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic"; a branch of the greater Indo-European language family...
related to Celtiberian
Celtiberian
Celtiberian may refer to:*the Celtiberians, a Celtic people of the Iberian Peninsula*the Celtiberian language, a Celtic language...
, usually called Gallaic or Northwestern Hispano-Celtic
Gallaecian language
The Northwestern Hispano-Celtic, Gallaecian or Gallaic, is classified as a Q-Celtic language under the P-Q system and was closely related to Celtiberian...
, and probably also Lusitanian
Lusitanian
Lusitanian may refer to:*Lusitanians, an ancient people of western Iberian Peninsula.**Lusitanian language, the language of the ancient Lusitanians.**Lusitanian mythology, the mythology of the ancient Lusitanians....
or some other Indo-European languages.
Archaeologically, they were the descents of local Atlantic Bronze Age
Atlantic Bronze Age
The Atlantic Bronze Age is a cultural complex of the Bronze Age period of approximately 1300–700 BC that includes different cultures in Portugal, Andalusia, Galicia, Armorica and the British Isles.-Trade:...
peoples (1300–700 BC). During the Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
they received several influences, from Central and Western Europe (Hallstatt
Hallstatt culture
The Hallstatt culture was the predominant Central European culture from the 8th to 6th centuries BC , developing out of the Urnfield culture of the 12th century BC and followed in much of Central Europe by the La Tène culture.By the 6th century BC, the Hallstatt culture extended for some...
and, to a lesser extent, La Tène culture
La Tène culture
The La Tène culture was a European Iron Age culture named after the archaeological site of La Tène on the north side of Lake Neuchâtel in Switzerland, where a rich cache of artifacts was discovered by Hansli Kopp in 1857....
), and from the Mediterranean (Phoenicians and Carthaginians). The Gallaeci dwelt in hill forts (locally called castros), and the archaeological culture they developed is called "Castro culture
Castro culture
Castro culture is the archaeological term for naming the Celtic archaeological culture of the northwestern regions of the Iberian Peninsula from the end of the Bronze Age until it was subsumed in local Roman culture...
" (Hill-forts culture). They were finally annexed by Caesar Augustus during the Cantabrian Wars
Cantabrian Wars
The Cantabrian Wars occurred during the Roman conquest of the modern provinces of Cantabria, Asturias and León, against the Asturs and the Cantabri. They were the final stage of the conquest of Hispania.-Antecedents:...
, a war which initiated a period of assimilation into a Gallaecian-Roman culture.
History
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
, makes the study of history previous to the first contacts with Romans
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
impossible. However, early allusions to this people are present in ancient Greek and Latin authors previous to the conquest, and it allows the reconstruction of a few historical events of this people since the second century BC
Thanks to Silius Italicus
Silius Italicus
Silius Italicus, in full Tiberius Catius Asconius Silius Italicus , was a Roman consul, orator, and Latin epic poet of the 1st century CE,...
, it's known that between the years 218 and 201 BC, during the Second Punic War
Second Punic War
The Second Punic War, also referred to as The Hannibalic War and The War Against Hannibal, lasted from 218 to 201 BC and involved combatants in the western and eastern Mediterranean. This was the second major war between Carthage and the Roman Republic, with the participation of the Berbers on...
, some Gallaecian troops were involved in the fight in the ranks of Carthaginian Hannibal against the Roman army of Scipio Africanus
Scipio Africanus
Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus , also known as Scipio Africanus and Scipio the Elder, was a general in the Second Punic War and statesman of the Roman Republic...
. Also Silius Italicus
Silius Italicus
Silius Italicus, in full Tiberius Catius Asconius Silius Italicus , was a Roman consul, orator, and Latin epic poet of the 1st century CE,...
added a short description of the Gallaecian contingent and their curious military tactics:
"Rich Gallaecia sent its youths, wise in the knowledge of divination by the entrails of beasts, by feathers and flames, now howling barbarian songs in the tongues of their homelands, now alternately stamping the ground in their rhythmic dances until the ground rang, and accompanying the playing with sonorous shields".
After Silius Italicus
Silius Italicus
Silius Italicus, in full Tiberius Catius Asconius Silius Italicus , was a Roman consul, orator, and Latin epic poet of the 1st century CE,...
, Appian of Alexandria
Appian
Appian of Alexandria was a Roman historian of Greek ethnicity who flourished during the reigns of Trajan, Hadrian, and Antoninus Pius.He was born ca. 95 in Alexandria. He tells us that, after having filled the chief offices in the province of Egypt, he went to Rome ca. 120, where he practised as...
mentioned in his book Iberiké, the first military conflict known between Gallaeci and Romans. In it, Appian
Appian
Appian of Alexandria was a Roman historian of Greek ethnicity who flourished during the reigns of Trajan, Hadrian, and Antoninus Pius.He was born ca. 95 in Alexandria. He tells us that, after having filled the chief offices in the province of Egypt, he went to Rome ca. 120, where he practised as...
narrates the events that occurred during the Lusitanian War
Lusitanian War
The Lusitanian War, called the Purinos Polemos , was a war of resistance fought between the advancing legions of the Roman Republic and the Lusitani tribes of Hispania Ulterior from 155 to 139 BC. The Lusitani revolted on two separate occasions and were pacified...
(155-139 BC), mentioning that this last year (139 BC), after being cheated by the Lusitanian
Lusitanians
The Lusitanians were an Indo-European people living in the Western Iberian Peninsula long before it became the Roman province of Lusitania . They spoke the Lusitanian language which might have been Celtic. The modern Portuguese people see the Lusitanians as their ancestors...
chief (Viriatus) the Quintus Servilius Caepio
Quintus Servilius Caepio
Quintus Servilius Caepio the Elder was a Roman statesman and general, consul in 106 BC, and proconsul of Cisalpine Gaul in 105 BC. He was the father of Quintus Servilius Caepio the Younger and the grandfather of Servilia Caepionis....
's army devastated few Gallaecian and Vettonian
Vettones
The Vettones were one of the pre-Roman Celtic peoples of the Iberian Peninsula .- Origins :...
regions. The attack on these Southern Gallaecian peoples, probably in the modern Alto Douro (modern North of Portugal), near the border with Vettones
Vettones
The Vettones were one of the pre-Roman Celtic peoples of the Iberian Peninsula .- Origins :...
, had a character of punishment, due to the Gallaecian support to Lusitanians
Lusitanians
The Lusitanians were an Indo-European people living in the Western Iberian Peninsula long before it became the Roman province of Lusitania . They spoke the Lusitanian language which might have been Celtic. The modern Portuguese people see the Lusitanians as their ancestors...
.
Settlement
The Gallaecian life style was based in land occupation especially by fortified settlements that are know in Latin language as "castrum" (hillforts), being able to vary its size from a small village of less than one hectare (more common in the northern territory), and great forts with more than 10 hectares denominated oppida or "citadel," being these latters more common in the Southern half of their traditional settlement. This mode of inhabiting the territory-by hillforts was common throughout Europe during the Bronze Age and Iron, getting in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, the name of 'Castro culture" (Castrum culture) or "hillfort's culture", which alludes to this type of settlement before the Roman arrival. However, a important quantity of Gallaecian hillforts continued to be inhabited until the 8th century BC.These fortified villages tended to be located in the hills, rocky promontories and peninsulas surrounded on the sea, it improved its visibility, advocacy and the domain over territory. The location of these settlements was also studied to a better control of natural resources used by its inhabitants. The Gallaecian hillforts and oppidas maintain a great homogeneity, presenting evident commonalities.
Political-territorial organization
The Gallaecian political organization is not known with certainty, but it is very probable that they were divided into small independent states that comprised in its interior a great number of small forts, comanded these states by the figure of a local king, which the Romans called princeps as in other parts of Europe. Each Gallaecian considered himself also a member of the hillfort where lived (according to the most common interpretation of the reversed C of epigraphy later) and the state / people to whom they belonged, and that the Romans called populus, among all some of them left us their names: Arrotrebae, Albion, celtic praestamarici, lemavi, etc. .., just as the end of the eighteenth century, people in Galicia still are identified with the parish and the region.Some Gallaecian tribes:
- AlbioniAlbioniThe Albioni were an ancient Gallaecian Celtic tribe, living in the north of modern Asturias, near the border of modern Galicia.-External links:*...
- ArroniArroniThe Arroni or Arrotrebi were an ancient Gallaecian Celtic tribe, living in the north of modern Galicia, in the Ortigueira's county.-External links:*...
- ArtabriArtabriAccording to Strabo, the Artabri were an ancient Gallaecian Celtic tribe, living in the extreme north-west of modern Galicia, about Cape Nerium , in the later counties of A Coruña's or Ferrol. Strabo reports several seaports among the Artabri...
- IadoviIadoviThe Iadovi were an ancient Gallaecian Celtic tribe, living in the north of modern Galicia, around Viveiro's territory.-External links:*...
- PoemaniPoemaniThe Poemani were an ancient Gallaecian Celtic tribe, living in the center-north of modern Galicia, in the Terra Chá's county.It seems attractive to view a possible comparing with a gaulish tribe in the Ardennes forest...
- LougueiLougueiThe Louguei were an ancient Gallaecian Celtic tribe, living in the east of modern Galicia, in the Ancares's county.-External links:*...
- SeurriSeurriThe Seurri were an ancient Gallaecian Celtic tribe, living in the center-east of modern Galicia, in the Sarria's county.-External links:*...
- BaediBaediThe Baedi were an ancient Gallaecian Celtic tribe, living in the north of modern Galicia, in the Betanzos's county.-External links:*...
- Naebisoci
- NamariniNamariniThe Namarini were an ancient Gallaecian Celtic tribe, living in the north of modern Galicia, in the Foz's county.-External links:*...
- LuanquiLuanquiThe Luanqvi were an ancient Celtic tribe of Gallaecia, living in the north of modern Portugal, in the province of Trás-os-Montes, between the rivers Tâmega and Tua.-External links:*...
- NarbasiNarbasiThe Narbasi were an ancient Celtic tribe of Gallaecia, living in the province of Minho and nearby areas of modern Galicia .-External links:*...
- NemetatiNemetatiThe Nemetati were an ancient Celtic tribe of Gallaecia, living in the north of modern Portugal between the Cávado and Ave Rivers, in the province of Minho, north of the Douro.They lived near the valley of the Ave River and may have some link with inscriptions to the war god Cosus Nemedecus. The...
- InteramiciInteramiciThe Interamici were an ancient Celtic tribe of Gallaecia, living in the north of modern Portugal, in the province of Trás-os-Montes, near the border with Galicia .-External links:*...
- SeurbiSeurbiThe Seurbi were an ancient Celtic tribe of Gallaecia, living in the north of modern Portugal, in the province of Minho, between the rivers Cávado and Lima .-External links:*...
- QuaquerniQuaquerniThe Quaquerni were an ancient Celtic tribe of Gallaecia, living in the north of modern Portugal, province of Minho, in the mountains at the mouths of the rivers Tâmega and Cávado.-External links:*...
- TurodiTurodiThe Turodi were an ancient Celtic tribe of Gallaecia, living in the north of modern Portugal, in the province of Trás-os-Montes and border areas in Galicia .-External links:*...
- Aunonensis
- CibarciCibarciThe Cibarci were an ancient Gallaecian Celtic tribe, living in the north-east of modern Galicia, in the Ribadeo's county.-External links:*...
- NeriiNeriiThe Nerii were an ancient Gallaecian Celtic tribe, living in the north of modern Galicia, in the Costa da Morte's county.-External links:*...
- LapatianciLapatianciThe Lapatianci were an ancient Gallaecian Celtic tribe, living in the north of modern Galicia, in the Cedeira's county.-External links:*...
- CileniCileniThe Cileni were an ancient Gallaecian Celtic tribe, living in the west of modern Galicia, in the Caldas de Reis's county.-External links:*...
- LemaviLemaviThe Lemavi were an ancient Gallaecian Celtic tribe, living in the center-east of the modern Galicia, in the Monforte de Lemos's county.-External links:*...
- CaporiCaporiThe Capori were an ancient Gallaecian Celtic tribe, living in the west of modern Galicia, in the Padrón's county.-External links:*...
- Celtici PraestamariciCeltici PraestamariciThe Celtici Praestamarici were an ancient Gallaecian Celtic tribe, living in the west of modern Galicia, in the Barbanza's county.-External links:*...
- Celtici SupertamariciCeltici SupertamariciThe Celtici Supertamarici were an ancient Gallaecian Celtic tribe, living in the west of modern Galicia, in the Xallas's county.-External links:*...
- Aquiflaviensis
- BracariBracariThe Bracari were an ancient Celtic tribe of Gallaecia, akin to the Calaicians or Gallaeci, living in the northwest of modern Portugal, in the province of Minho, between the rivers Tâmega and Cávado, around the area of the modern city of Braga .Appian wrote they were a very warlike people...
- CoelerniCoelerniThe Coelerni were an ancient Celtic tribe of Gallaecia in Hispania , part of Calaician or Gallaeci people , living in what was to become the Roman Province of Hispania Citerior, convent of Bracara Augusta , in what is now the southern part of the province of Ourense .Some sources, like Alarcão,...
- GroviiGroviiThe Grovii were an ancient Celtic tribe of Gallaecia, living in the north of modern Portugal, in the province of Minho, around the Minho river, and spreading into modern day Galicia . One of their main gods was Turiacus.-External links:*...
- LimiciLimiciThe Limici were an ancient Celtic tribe of Gallaecia, living in the swamps of the river Lima, in the border region between Minho and Galicia .-External links:*...
- EquaesiEquaesiThe Equaesi were an ancient Celtic tribe of Gallaecia, living in the north of modern Portugal, between the provinces of Minho and Trás-os-Montes, near the border of modern Galicia .-External links:*...
- TamaganiTamaganiThe Tamagani were an ancient Celtic tribe of Gallaecia, living in the north of modern Portugal, in the province of Trás-os-Montes, from the area of Chaves, near the river Tâmega.-External links:*...
- Bibali
- Aobrigensis
Origin of the name
The Romans named the entire region north of that river, where the Castro cultureCastro culture
Castro culture is the archaeological term for naming the Celtic archaeological culture of the northwestern regions of the Iberian Peninsula from the end of the Bronze Age until it was subsumed in local Roman culture...
existed, in honour of the Castro people that settled in the area of Calle — the Callaeci, later the Roman Portus Calle, today's Porto
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
. Thus, a Roman province, known as Callaecia or Gallaecia
Gallaecia
Gallaecia or Callaecia, also known as Hispania Gallaecia, was the name of a Roman province and an early Mediaeval kingdom that comprised a territory in the north-west of Hispania...
, was later created.
The names "Callaici" and "Calle" are the origin of today's: Gaia
Vila Nova de Gaia
Vila Nova de Gaia, or simply Gaia is a city in Vila Nova de Gaia Municipality, Portugal. It is located in the Porto District, south of the city of Porto on the other side of the Douro River. The city proper has a population of 178,255 and the municipality contains 24 parishes with a total...
, Galicia, and the "Gal" root in "Portugal", among many other placenames in the region.
Gallaecian language
GallaecianGallaecian language
The Northwestern Hispano-Celtic, Gallaecian or Gallaic, is classified as a Q-Celtic language under the P-Q system and was closely related to Celtiberian...
or Gallaic was a Q-Celtic language or group of languages or dialects, closely related to Celtiberian, spoken at the beginning of our era in the north-western quarter of the Iberian Peninsula, more specifically between the west and north Atlantic coasts and an imaginary line running north-south and linking Oviedo and Mérida.[3][4] Just like it is the case for Illyrian or Ligurian languages, its corpus its composed by isolated words and short sentences contained in local Latin inscriptions, or glossed by classic authors, together with a considerable number of names – anthroponyms, ethnonyms, theonyms, toponyms – contained in inscriptions, or surviving up to date as place, river or mountain names. Besides, many of the isolated words of Celtic origin preserved in the local Romance languages could have been inherited from these Q-Celtic dialects.
Gallaecian deities
Through the Galician-Roman inscriptions, is known part of the great pantheon of Galician deities , sharing part not only by other Celtic peoples or celtizados Peninsula, such as Astur-especially the more Western-or Lusitanian, but also by roosters or Britons among others. This will highlight the following:- BanduaBanduaIn classical Celtic polytheism as well as in Gallaecian and Lusitanian mythology, Bandua was a theonym used to refer to a god or goddess worshipped in Iberia by Gallaeci and Lusitanians. Whether the name referred to a discrete deity or was an epithet applied to different deities is arguable.-Extent...
: Gallaecian God War, similar to the Roman god, Mars. Great success among the Galician Braga. - Berobreus: god of the Otherworld and beyond. The largest shrine dedicated to Berobreo documented until now, stood in the fort of the Torch of Donón, in the Morrazo's Peninsula front of the Cies Islands.
- Bormanicus: god of hot springs similar to the Gaulish god, Bormanus.
- NabiaNabiaNabia was the goddess of rivers and water in Gallaecian and Lusitanian mythology, in the territory of modern Galicia and Portugal.The present-day Navia River and Avia_ in Galicia, was named in honor of the deity...
: goddess of waters, of fountains and rivers. In Galicia still noradays, as in northern Portugal, numerous rivers that still persists with his name, as the river Navia, ships and even in northern Portugal there is still the Idol Fountain, dedicated to the goddess ship. - Cossus, warrior god, who attained great popularity among the Southern Gallaeci, was one of the most revered gods in ancient Gallaecia. Several authors pointed out that Cosso Bandua and are the same God under different names.
- ReueReo (deity)Reo Paramaeco is a name appearing on a Latin dedication to a Lusitanian-Gallaecian deity discovered in Lugo in Galicia. The name is in the dative case, for a Latinized name *Reus Paramaecus.-Name and meaning:...
, associated with the supreme God hierarchy, justice and also death. - LugusLugusLugus was a deity of the Celtic pantheon. His name is rarely directly attested in inscriptions, but his importance can be inferred from placenames and ethnonyms, and his nature and attributes are deduced from the distinctive iconography of Gallo-Roman inscriptions to Mercury, who is widely believed...
, or Lucubo, sun god par excellence, linked to prosperity, trade and craft occupations. His figure is associated with the spear. It is one of gods most common among the Celts and many, many place names derived from it throughout Europe Celtic Galicia (Galicia Lucus Latinized form) to Loudoun (Scotland), and even the naming of people as Gallaecia Louguei . - CoventinaCoventinaCoventina was a Romano-British goddess of wells and springs. She is known from multiple inscriptions at one site in Northumberland county of the United Kingdom, an area surrounding a wellspring near Carrawburgh on Hadrian's Wall...
, goddess of abundance and fertility. Strongly associated with the water nymphs, their cult record for most Western Europe, from England to Gallaecia. - EndovelicusEndovelicusEndovelicus , was an Iron Age god of public health and safety, worshipped in pre-Roman and Roman Lusitania and Gallaecia. He was associated with chthonic oracles and healing, and was probably the recipient of pig sacrifices...
, god of prophecy and healing, showing the faithful in dreams.
See also
- Castro cultureCastro cultureCastro culture is the archaeological term for naming the Celtic archaeological culture of the northwestern regions of the Iberian Peninsula from the end of the Bronze Age until it was subsumed in local Roman culture...
- History of GaliciaHistory of GaliciaThe Iberian Peninsula has been inhabited for at least 500,000 years, first by Neanderthals and then by modern humans.-Megalithic culture:Galicia, northern Portugal, Asturias, western León, and Zamora formed a single megalithic area since the Neolithic and Chalcolithic Ages, around 4500–1500...
- Galician Institute for Celtic StudiesGalician Institute for Celtic Studies-Aims and history:The Instituto Galego de Estudos Célticos is a Galician non-profit learned society established in 2009...
- Gallaecian languageGallaecian languageThe Northwestern Hispano-Celtic, Gallaecian or Gallaic, is classified as a Q-Celtic language under the P-Q system and was closely related to Celtiberian...
- AsturiasAsturiasThe Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
- History of PortugalHistory of PortugalThe history of Portugal, a European and an Atlantic nation, dates back to the Early Middle Ages. In the 15th and 16th centuries, it ascended to the status of a world power during Europe's "Age of Discovery" as it built up a vast empire including possessions in South America, Africa, Asia and...
- History of SpainHistory of SpainThe history of Spain involves all the other peoples and nations within the Iberian peninsula formerly known as Hispania, and includes still today the nations of Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain...
- Prehistoric IberiaPrehistoric IberiaThe prehistory of the Iberian peninsula begins with the arrival of the first hominins 1.2 million years ago and ends with the Punic Wars, when the territory enters the domains of written history...
- Timeline of Portuguese historyTimeline of Portuguese historyThis is a historical timeline of Portugal.*Timeline of Iberian prehistory*Pre-Roman Iberia *Roman Lusitania and Gallaecia *Germanic Kingdoms...
- Timeline of Iberian prehistory
- Timeline of pre-Roman Iberian history (before the 3rd century BC)Timeline of pre-Roman Iberian historyThis section of the timeline of Iberian history concerns events from before the Carthaginian conquests .-Bronze Age:*2nd millennium BC** c. 1800 BC – The El Argar civilization appears in Almería, south-east of Spain, replacing the earlier civilization of Los Millares. The adoption of bronze...
- Roman Lusitania and Gallaecia (3rd century BC to 4th century AD)Timeline of Portuguese history (Lusitania and Gallaecia)This is a historical timeline of Portugal.-3rd century BC:*237 BC - The Carthaginian General Hamilcar Barca enters Iberia with his armies through Gadir.*228 BC - Hamilcar Barca dies in battle...
- History of GaliciaHistory of GaliciaThe Iberian Peninsula has been inhabited for at least 500,000 years, first by Neanderthals and then by modern humans.-Megalithic culture:Galicia, northern Portugal, Asturias, western León, and Zamora formed a single megalithic area since the Neolithic and Chalcolithic Ages, around 4500–1500...
- Celtic Gallaecia
- Timeline of Galician historyTimeline of Galician History-Paleolithic:*200th millennium BC – In the Paleolithic period the Neanderthal Man enters the Iberian peninsula.*70th millennium BC**Neanderthal Mousterian culture.**Beginning of the Last Ice Age.*40th millennium BC**Beginning of the Upper Paleolithic....
- Pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian PeninsulaPre-Roman peoples of the Iberian PeninsulaThis is a list of the Pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian peninsula .-Non-Indo-European:*Aquitanians**Aquitani**Autrigones - some consider them Celtic .**Caristii - some consider them Celtic ....