History of Andalusia & Flamenco

Andalusia is a city that is located in the southern part of Spain and consists of eight distinct provinces: Almeria, Candiz, Cordoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaen, Malaga, and Seville. It is one of the 17 regions in Spain. In 2006, the population of Andalusia was 7,975,672 and is the largest population of any of the discovered Spanish states. However, the region is the second largest population in Spain.  It is estimated that early civilization occurred during the Pre-Roman times. The Phoenician empire, which was founded by the Tartessos, had built its empire to assist in the trade in early twelfth century B.C.E.  During 700 B.C., Phoenicians founded Malaga, which was controlled by the ancient Romans and then later by Muslims from North Africa, including Arabs and Berbers, which are also known as the Moors. Andalusia was also known as the southern heartland for Muslim Spain. During the Middle Ages of the Muslim ruling, Andalusia became a tremendously wealthy and influential political factor, which help create scholarship and advances in many of the eight -district provincial areas. Cordoba, which is one of Andalusia eight districts areas, became the largest and richest city in all of Western Europe and one of the largest in the world, and the capital of Umayyad. During the half millennium of the Muslim ruling, the Moors established universities in Andalusia, and cultivated scholarships, including Western astronomy, medicine and medicines.  After five hundred years of Muslim ruling, it still remains influential on Andalusia’s culture identity.

The Moors left their region character through its architecture, language, and customs, and its tradition bullfights and gypsy Flamenco music. Because of the Muslim collapsing in 1031, it led to religious conflicts within the Muslims and then resulted in the renewal of Christian strength and culture in the north. During the declining period for Spain in the sixteenth century, Andalusia fell to consequences as well.  Flamenco originated from the region of Andalusia and influenced by the native Andalusian, Islamic, Sephardic, and Gypsy cultures that existed in Andalusia prior to and after the Reconquista, as well as Latin American and Cuban. The Golden Age of Flamenco dancing music developed between 1869-1910 in music cafes and followed by flamenco guitars.