Gibraltar History
Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory adjacent to Spain. Gibraltar history is a sequence of foreign conquests of the region. The British are the last conquerors.
The earliest record of Gibraltar history is found in the pre-historic remains of Neanderthal people in the area. The first recorded historical settlement was set up by the Phoenicians. The Phoenicians set up a trading post around 950 BC. Gibraltar was under Roman control at the time of the Roman empire. The Muslim Moorish army conquered the territory in 711 AD. Gibraltar was known in Greek legends as one of the Pillars of Hercules.
The Moors first established a permanent human settlement in Gibraltar. The Moors were the first architects on the island in the history of Gibraltar. They constructed the military fortification on the Rock. The crusades saw Gibraltar changing hands quickly in succession to Muslim and Christian invading armies. The territory was finally bought under Christian control by the beginning of the 16th century. Spain took control over Gibraltar in the 17th century. The War of the Spanish Succession saw the British taking control over the land. The British colonial period saw Gibraltar becoming a British naval garrison. The territory played an important part during the Second World War.