Our journey begins in ancient Iberia, the land that would one day become Spain. The first human occupants arrived here over a million years ago, marking the beginning of a long and diverse history. These early inhabitants, the original settlers of the Iberian Peninsula, were hunter-gatherers who laid the foundation for what would become one of Europe’s most vibrant civilizations. Think of them as the pioneers of Spain’s story, setting the stage for everything that was to comeFast forward to 241 BCE, after the First Punic War. The Carthaginians, under the leadership of Hamilcar Barca, turned their attention to the Iberian Peninsula. They founded the city of Cartagena as their capital and began exploiting the region's rich resources. This was the start of a new era, where Spain became a crucial strategic and economic hub for Carthage. It was like a Mediterranean chess game, with Spain as the key pieceSpain soon became the battleground for the epic struggle between Carthage and Rome during the Second Punic War. This war featured some of history’s greatest military maneuvers, including the exploits of Hannibal and his famous march across the Alps. However, it was the Roman general Scipio Africanus who turned the tide, expelling the Carthaginians from Spain. With their victory, the Romans laid the groundwork for centuries of rule over the Iberian Peninsula. It was like Game of Thrones, but with togas