History of Murcia
Early Beginnings. Bright Endings.
Although abundant evidence of human inhabitants in the region of Murcia doesn't show up until Neolithic times, there is a handful of strong evidence that takes human history here back to the Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon periods.
Iron Age artefacts have even shown the development of an agricultural culture, complete with the domestication of livestock. After the Iberian period, during the successive occupations of Murcia by Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians, intensive commercial trade developed along the coast.
Cartagena (then Carthago Nova or 'New Carthage') was founded by Hasdrubal in 223 BC when Hasdrubal stormed into the tiny settlement with his army from Carthage. However, greater growth occurred when the Romans arrived shortly thereafter.
The Romans developed mining, like that seen in Mazarrón, and laid the roots of Murcia's future agricultural sector. The valley of the Río Segura was used for producing vegetables and the coast's plentiful seafood was also harvested.
The migrating Muslim Moors moved into the crumbling Roman Empire and occupied Murcia in the early 8th century AD, some 600 years after the Roman's rule started. In 713 AD Abdelaziz defeated Theudemir's Hispano-Visogoth army in Cartagena and the Arab rule was cemented.
One hundred and twelve years later, Abderraman II founded the city of Murcia. The Moors intensified agriculture within the Río Segura valley, with the introduction of a complex network of irrigation canals, water wheels and dams. The Moorish reign would last until the 13th century, when the Christians recaptured the region that comprises Murcia today. The Moorish foothold remained stronger in southern Spain, meaning Muslim raids continued in Murcia until 1492.
The 16th century brought peace and stability to Murcia and it flourished until a series of droughts and plagues slowed its growth during the following century. The 18th century was a brilliant one, with baroque architecture flourishing in Murcia and building also booming in Cartagena.
Since those bright times, Murcia has experienced more swings of fortune, some good and some very bad. However, after lifting its head out of the Spanish civil war, Murcia has witnessed steady growth in its prosperity.
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