From Tartessians to Hispania: Shaping the Iberian Peninsula

Ancient Iberia: Pre-Roman Civilizations

The period preceding Roman conquest, from ancient times until 218 BCE, marks a crucial stage in the Iberian Peninsula's history. This era began with the landing of Scipio and the initiation of the Roman conquest. During this time, various distinct languages and cultures flourished, with Basque, Celtic, Phoenician, and especially Greek influences standing out.

Key Pre-Roman Peoples

• Tartessians

  They established a rich empire in the south, extending along the Atlantic coast and up to the Strait of Gibraltar.

• Iberians

  These peoples inhabited the Mediterranean coast and nearby inland areas, primarily in the eastern third of the peninsula. They were known for their rock paintings and diverse crafts, including ceramics and intricate stone carvings depicting figures. They also produced beautiful and highly refined jewelry and beads. The name "Iberia" for the peninsula is derived from them.

• Celts

  Originating from Germany, the Celts occupied the western third of the peninsula, facing the Atlantic. They invaded during the 7th century BCE, extending into the center of the peninsula. Here, they mixed with the Iberians, forming the Celtiberians.

• Basques

  Settling around the Atlantic side of the Pyrenees, the Basques, due to the challenging terrain, remained largely untouched by later Roman influence, preserving their unique language and culture.

• Other Influences: Phoenicians, Greeks, and Carthaginians

  These maritime peoples established colonies along the Mediterranean shores and parts of the South Atlantic coast of the peninsula. The primary purpose of their trading posts was commercial. They created port towns to protect shipping routes and to facilitate trade with the indigenous populations. This contact resulted in a significant linguistic impregnation, evident in various loanwords. The term "Spanija" (meaning "land of rabbits"), used by the Carthaginians, was adopted by the Romans and evolved into "Hispania."

Roman Hispania: Conquest and Linguistic Legacy

The Roman Period in the Iberian Peninsula stretches from 218 BCE to 409 CE. This era concluded with the onset of Germanic invasions, notably by the Alans, Vandals, and Visigoths. The Roman Empire imposed its language, Latin, which became dominant, leading to the disappearance of many indigenous languages, with the notable exception of Basque. Latin was firmly established as the persistent language in the Iberian Peninsula.

The Evolution of Latin in Hispania

The Latin of this era, like any living language, existed on two levels:

• Cultured Latin

  A refined form with beautiful words and metaphors, used by writers and politicians in forums and public meetings.

• Vulgar Latin

  The everyday language spoken by the Roman populace, soldiers, and merchants who were in daily contact with the local population. The Romanization of Hispania was so profound that many structures from this period are still preserved today, including aqueducts, bridges, forts, theaters, temples, roads, and a vast number of documents.

Linguistic Legacy: Latin to Castilian

The influence of Latin on the languages of the Iberian Peninsula, particularly Castilian, is immense. Here are some examples of words that transitioned from Latin into Castilian:

• Terra: Tierra (Earth)
• Bona: Buena (Good)
• Vita: Vida (Life)
• Farina: Harina (Flour)
• Facer: Hacer (Make)
• Lupum: Lobo (Wolf)
• Plumbum: Plomo (Lead)
• Cuprum: Cobre (Copper)
• Argentum: Plata (Silver)

Formation of Peninsular Languages: A Synthesis

The linguistic landscape of the Iberian Peninsula is a complex tapestry woven from various influences:

• Linguistic Substrate

  The foundational elements from pre-Roman languages:

  • Iberians
  • Celts
  • Phoenicians
  • Basque
  • Greek
  • Other (Carthaginians)

• Linguistic Stratum

  The dominant language layer:

  • Vulgar Latin

• Superstratum Linguistics

  Later linguistic influences:

  • Germanic elements (Visigoths)
  • Later input elements: Arabic, European, and American lexicons

Percentage Breakdown of Linguistic Sources in Castilian

An approximate breakdown of the origins of words in Castilian:

• Latin: 70%
• Greek: 10%
• Arabic: 8%
• Germanic: 5%
• Other: 7%