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Ibiza history
   
Ibiza
History goes back to:
8 million years ago, at the end of the Tertiary era, the Balearic
islands, were created as they arose from the ocean like all other
European mountain ranges,
In the beginning the islands were still attached to the Spanish
mainland, but due to further rising of the sea level the Balearic
Islands came about 12.000 years ago.
Ibiza was part of the Balearic
Islands, and human habitation dates from
at least 5000 BC.
Ibiza History tells us that the Balearic islands
were positioned on the Phoenician trade route which soon caused the
island being conquered and inhabited by
Phoenicians.
They founded a
settlement in Sa Caleta (the remnants are certainly worh a visit).
Back to the 9th century BC the Phoenician culture carried on
trading lead, silver and minerals but due to covering great
distances they needed places to lay in provisions.
Ibiza very soon became their port of call where necessary supplies were
put on board and repairs were carried out .
Later on the
Carthaginians did the same but more important they also founded
Ibiza Town, which became an important port in those days.
They also used Ibiza
as their burial grounds and
constructed
The Salinas for saltmaking, Ibiza's most important trading
product the 'White Gold'
= Salt.
Archaeological discoveries have taught us
much about the presence of the Carthaginians in Ibiza.
123 years BC, the island was occupied by the
Romans, who, for the first
time, governed Formentera, Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca as an archipelago.
The islands most importantly supplied the Romans with necessary soldiers
and wood while in the mean time they learned the local population how
grow grapes, corn and
olives.
Of course in those days. there were also constructed
bridges, roads in the Balearic
Islands, and cities such
as Manacor, Palma, and the main
town in those days: Pollentia
now known as Alcudia.
   
Later on, in the 4th and 5th century, Ibiza
was also occupied by the Vandals
and Byzantines, and the first basilicas
were established.
The Moors and the
Vikings came, but they were eventually displaced by
the Arabs who conquered the island in 707, and would remain for 5
centuries.
Traces of all these sieges are clearly reflected in the walled part of ibiza-Town, called D'Alt Vila,
meaning 'that high city'.
The ramparts of D Alt Vila
include 7 watchtowers and
3 gates,
including the Tablasgate
- entrance gate, that are now declared
unique historical monument
in Europe.
Later in Ibiza History came,
in succession the
Romans, Visigoths and
Muslims.
The Muslims
left an important and recognizable
imprint in the island's typical architecture and
tthe traditional costumes.
   
During Christian domination in the 13th century the
Muslims were
driven of the island by the Catalans, and then Ibiza quickly lost
its importance for the region.
Once in 1479 Ferdinand of Aragon
and Isabella of Castile
got married the Balearic Island officially belonged to the Kingdom of
Spain and reconquest of the lost Spanish regions began.
This
Bourbon cgovernment would stand until the 18th century.
The Balearic islands were now a major centre for maritime trade and thus
a target for pirates from North Africa. Already for centuries Ibiza
attracted the attention of pirates who were mainly specialized in
stealing people. Formentera even was entirely depopulated by them.
Historians assume that the Ibicenco built
their fincas so far apart since previously larger settlements drew the
attention of the pirates at sea. The islanders thus painted their houses
that pointed towards the seafront in a more natural color that
merged into the landscape.
   
The population of the island had been
depleted by many wars and as a result the Ibicenco were extremely
motivated to protect their island from further attacks from the sea. So they built protective watchtowers, each tower with views in different
directions.
The news of approaching pirates was quickly passed through,
from tower to tower, by signs of fire, so the population could find refuge in the protective
churches that were already built.
The residents of Ibiza formed a sort of
vigilante by acting as pirates - corsair
- themselves, in order
to minimize the attacks. Antonio Riquer Arabi
in those days, was a
glorious corsair captain, which conquered more than 100 ships and helped
prevent the island from much further sufferings.
To honor him the island later placed a memorial,
Corsair Obelisk,
that still today is the only
pirate statue
in the world.
In 1554, the now visible walls were built on top of the old city walls of
arabic D Alt Vila.
The town of
D Alt Vila, with watchtower at sea is also one true historic building dating
from ancient times.
In the 17th century Punic dominaters chopped more than 4000 graves from the rocks, for their vaults.
Tthe Archaeological Museum of Eivissa -at the Cathedral square in D Alt Vila
you can look at
all survived Punic artefacts.
In the Museum of Ethnography of Eivissa in
Can Ros des Puig the Missa in
Santa Eulària des Riu,
one can view collections of primitive objects
and the Church of Jesús
houses paintings from the historic Valencian School.
The imposing
13th century cathedral of Ibiza also
houses an interesting museum.
Furthermore, Ibiza, even hosts a
Museum of Modern Art
for lovers of contemporary art.
In 1880 one begun construction of, what
eventually would be, 180 windmills, that were used to pump water and for corn grinding.
Because of their importance for the rural architecture of the
Balearic Islands, although a large part of the mills had lapsed, a
number of them was now declared to
World Cultural
Heritage by
UNESCO such as
Molí d'Toni Joan, and
Molí des Porxet
and Molí des Puig d'en Valls
The nearly extinct Oceanic Posidonia - Seagrass fields in the water of
the Oceanic Nature Reserve of Las Salinas
was declared World heritage by
UNESCO on december
14, 1999.
The
mostly restored
remains, from Ibiza's history
of occupation, abandoned by various different prevailing
cultures, are absolutely worthwhile visiting during a stay
on this beautiful island, so you truly can imagine the life
that the Ibizan population must have passed, during
centuries of oppression by so many different cultures.
   
Even in the modern 20th
century again there was excessive interest in Ibiza when in
the 70-ties hippies came to the island succeedingly
followed by clubbers
in the 90-ties.
An
explanation can be found in the remarkable tolerance of the Ibicenzan
inhabitants towards the annual invasion of
exuberant and dissipated holidaymakers who only want to have fun
no matter what.
As stated earlier, the local population is very tolerant to
the sometimes odd-dressed holidaymakers, and striking gayscene
that spread on their island in large numbers during the
summer month.
The Ibicenco in this free, sunny island, live according to the
motto, life and let live!
Don't leave Ibiza island without visiting the reminders of
passed times of the Ibiza History.
You will find all
Ibiza history in
this IBIZA 4 ALL directory
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