History of the Balearic Islands

Its estimated that the first pre-historic people must have landed on the islands about 5000 years ago. They arrived from the East but their origin is not clear. They lived mainly in mountain caves.

The Phoenicians initially used the island to establish trading-posts and to bury their dead. After the Phoenicians came the Greeks, but they mainly settled in Cataluña. In 123 BC, the Romans, colonized the Balearic islands. The next 450 years were lived in peace under the Roman civilization with palaces, official buildings and other monuments being built and decorated with beautiful facades.

The peace was disturbed by the Vandals who overpowered the Romans and destroyed the island. The next few centuries saw several invasions by the Byzanthians, Normans and Berbers.

In 902 the islands were taken over by the Moors and the Arab domination lasted for the next four centuries. The Arabs brought civilization to Mallorca. With new irrigation systems agriculture flourished and the island prospered.

The islands were conquered by the King of Aragon, James I, in 1229 and were resettled by people of Catalan origin. After the death of James I his son James II inherited the Kingdom of Mallorca and despite some small wars Mallorca flourished economically and culturally. The construction of the magnificent Cathedral of Mallorca also began during this period.

During the 18th century, Mallorca was occupied by the English, the French and the Spanish. The 18th century brought many famines and epidemics and it was not until the 19th century that that prosperity improved somewhat.

The beginning of the 1950's marked the beginning of the tourist phenomenon which was to changed the city and the entire island of Mallorca, transforming it into a center of attraction for visitors with a huge boost to the economy.

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