Pre-Roman Peoples and Ancient Settlements in the Iberian Peninsula

1.2 The Pre-Roman Peoples

Since the beginning of the 5th century BC, the Iberian Peninsula was divided into two distinct cultural areas. The Iberians, influenced by Greek and Punic cultures, were located in the east and south and never formed a single ethnic or political unit. The rest of the peninsula was inhabited by the Celts.

The Iberian Peoples

Tribes included the Turdetani, Bastetani, Edetani, and Laietani. Their society was characterized by:

• Economy: Agricultural focus with textile crops, mining, and metallurgy for weapons and gold.
• Innovation: Development of their own currency and writing systems.
• Settlements: Walled, easily defended villages.
• Social Structure: Tribal organization with a hierarchy based on economic and military power.
• Art: Notable achievements in sculpture and ceramics.

The Celtic Peoples

Tribes included the Vaccaei, Lusitani, Carpetani, and Celtiberians. They possessed indigenous features with Indo-European influences:

• Economy: Plateau inhabitants practiced basic farming, while Central and Iberian groups were ranchers. Northern groups remained primitive.
• Crafts: Low-quality goods intended for home consumption.
• Lifestyle: Farmers were sedentary and lived in fortified villages (castros), while others were nomadic.
• Social Structure: Tribal organization; they did not possess a writing system.

1.3 Historic Settlements: Phoenicians, Greeks, and Carthaginians

From the end of the 11th century to the 6th century BC, Indo-European peoples entered the peninsula through the Pyrenees from Central Europe. They settled in Catalonia and the plateau, bringing knowledge of iron, agriculture, and livestock. Some practiced cremation rituals, scattering ashes in urns.

The southern region, rich in copper, silver, and gold, became the primary site for commercial hubs:

• Phoenicians: Founded their first settlements in the southeast, most notably Gadir (Cádiz), a major market town.
• Greeks: Colonized the region starting in the 8th century BC, founding colonies such as Emporion (Ampurias, Gerona) and Mainake (Málaga).
• Carthaginians: Colonized Ibiza and Almería between the 6th and 5th centuries BC, with Carthage serving as the primary power.

These commercial contacts fostered agricultural development through new crops and the plow, as well as advancements in crafts via the wheel and iron metallurgy. Trade encouraged the use of currency, urban planning, and writing. The civilization most renowned for this trade was Tartessos.