Inhabited at various times by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths, Moors and Franks, Barcelona gained its independence in the 9^th century and 300 years later formed a union with the neighboring Kingdom of Aragon. During these years, Catalonia became a major Mediterranean sea and trading power and Barcelona included among its foreign possessions Sicily, Sardinia, Malta, Valencia, the Balearic Islands and parts of France and Greece. Catalonia’s union with the neighboring Kingdom of Aragon eventually led to its incorporation into Spain on the marriage in the 15^th century of Ferdinand of Aragon and Castille’s Queen Isabella, the monarchs who also sponsored Colombus’ voyage to the New World and the ousting of the Moors and Jews, two other monumental events in Spanish history.

Catalans have never been entirely happy under Madrid’s rule and they revolted several times against the crown, even forming alliances with Spain’s foreign enemies. King Felipe V finally cracked down, forcefully occupying Barcelona and prohibiting the local language, a source of nationalist pride and identity. Almost alone among the Spanish regions, Catalonia experienced the Industrial Revolution and in the 19^th century it was, once again, one of the wealthiest regions in the Mediterranean. The early 20^th century saw a rise in anarchist and communist movements among the workers and intelligentsia and Catalonia was solidly Republican during the Civil War. In punishment, the Franco regime banned the language and all other nationalist symbols. After his death, Catalonia reasserted its identity and there are periodic demands for independence from Spain.