___ Spain

Background:
In ancient times the Iberian Peninsula at the southwestern tip of Europe has been inhabited by various ethnic groups. Iberian tribes moved into the peninsula at some point during the second millennium B.C. --whether from north Africa or southern Europe-- and spread out over a broad area. During the eighth and ninth centuries B.C. Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, and a significant number of Celtic immigrants from central and northern Europe entered the peninsula. This highly diversified ethnic stocks of the pre-Roman period, constituting the ancestors of the later Spaniards.
Disparate societies and the tribal organisation of the Iberian inhabitants slow down the conquest of "Hispania" by the Romans, lasting from 218 B.C. to 19 B.C.

With the decline of the Roman empire, Suebi, Vandals and Alans took control of parts of Hispania. Followed by the Visigoths, who conquered all of Hispania in the 5th century A.D. and established a kingdom lasting until 711, when it fell to an invasion by Islamic North African Moors. The Reconquista, the struggle among the Christian kingdoms and the Moors lasted until 1492. By 1512, the unification of present-day Spain was complete.

During the 16th century, Spain became the most powerful nation in Europe, due to the immense wealth derived from their possessions in the Americas. The steady decline of Spanish power in Europe began in the end of the 16th century, in the 19th century Spain suffered the loss of most of its colonies.

With the victory of his nationalist forces in 1939, General Francisco Franco ruled a nation exhausted politically and economically, isolated by the Allies.

In 1955 Spain joined the United Nations. 1975 Franco's personally designated heir Prince Juan Carlos assumed the position of king and head of state.

Spain joined NATO in 1982 and became a member of the European Union in 1986.