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History



Here you get a small summary of Majorcas history from 5000 B.C. til the year 2000



5000 - 4000 a.C.

The first immigrant settled probably between Capdella and "Puig de Galatzo" in Majorca. They came from the south of france.


2200 - 1400 a.C.

People lived in caves, some caves were used as gravesites. People practised agriculture, most of them were hunter-gatherer.


1400 - 800 a.C.

First settlements were build in megalith architecture. This means that these buildings were build only with boulders which were stacked one upon the other without any joining. These settlements, known as "Talaiots" were the most common architecture til the roman time. First trade connections with people of the continent.


660 a.C.

First commercial settlements were founded by the Carthaginian.


264 - 201 a.C.

The romanbegan to crowd the carthaginian people from the mediterranean area in the punic wars. The people of the balearic became pirates because of the decreased power of the carthaginian. The majorcan were infamous for their ability of catapult stones. Maybe this ability was responsible for the naming of the balearic archipelago (throw in greek: ballain).


123 a.C.

The decline of Carthage was perfect. Rome wins the dominance in the Mediterranean. The cities of Sinium (Sineu), Pollentia (Alcúdia) and Palmira (Palma) were founded. The trade, the farming and the culture revive in Majorca.


3 a.C.

Within the first centuries AD the spain started the christianisation of the balearic islands.


455 - 534

The balearic islands were occupied by the vandals.


534

The reign of the vandals were ended by the east of the roman from Byzanz. Majorca became the initial point for fighting against the goths. Majorca became a part of the Byzantine empire til 903 AD.


903 - 1012

The arab took the dominion of majorca. Majorca became an oriental culture. Names of some cities (e. g. Binisalem, Andratx or Algaida) remind of this time.


1229

The troops of the king of Aragon, Jaume I landet in today's Santa Ponca on september 12th. The "Reconquista", recapture of Majorca by the christians startet. The Arabs were beaten by 13000 men and 150 ships. Medina Mayorca (Palma) were sieged for three month. The Arabs capitulatet on december 31st. As a result the depredation began and most of the arabic buildings were destroyed.


1276

Before he died, Jaume I arranged the construction of the cathedral und the "Castell de Bellver". His kingdom were subdivided under his sons Pedro and Jaume. Jaume (known as Jaume II.) became the new king of Majorca and Pedro (known as Pedro III.) became the king of Catalonia and Aragon.


1279

Alfonso III., the son of Pedro III. raises claim to the Balearic Islands with the revenue of the fortress "Alaró".


1311 - 1324

Sancho I. took the throne from his father Jaume II. for a short time. As Jaume II. died Jaume III became the next king.


1349

Jaume III. were beaten by his cousin Pedro IV. of Aragon in a destructive battle. Jaume III. died in this battle. "Castell de Bellver" turned into a stat prison for his widow and children. As a result of this battle majorca became assessable towards Aragon. The loss of Majorcas autonomy were leading to riots and rebellion.


1492

Because of the discovery of america the spain king shiftet the business. Majorca became uninteresting and the Majorcan economy decreased.


1550

The turks took over the eastern Mediterranean and occupied the north of africa. They depredate the cities on the coasts of the mediterranean countries. "Talaias" (Watchtowers) were builded along the coast of Majorca for protection against the turkish pirates.


1571

In the naval battle of "Lepanto" european associations defeated the turkish fleet. Therefore the number of the turkish attacks against the Majorcan cities decreases.


1837

The line operation between Palma and Barcelona with steamships took only 18 hours.


1838 - 1839

George Sand and Fréderic Chopin spended their famous winter in Majorca.


1869

Ludwig Salvator, the archduke of Austria acquires broad estates and settled down in Majorca. He wrote the masterwork "the Balearic Islands" on his principal domicile "Son Marroig". This book in seven volumes about the culture and nature of Majorca.


1936 - 1939

In the spain civil war the balearic islands became the troop base of Franco's troops.


1945

The 2nd world war passes by with almost no damage on Majorca. The german used Majorca for their shattered ships and airplanes.


1960

The coasts of Majorca changed rapidly. Many hotels were builded and the mass tourism came to Majorca. Approximately one million tourists per anno spend their holiday on Majorca.


1960 - 2000

After the death of Franco the spain democratisation started. Palma became the capital city of the new autonomic region of the balearic islands. In the year 1992 the number of tourists increases over six million. Majorca began to rethink, several buildings at the coasts were torn down. The first is the Hotel "Atlantic" in Magaluf in the year 1996.



© 2004-2023 Jens Händel