History Of Barcelona

When the top world cities are considered for analysis, the first cities that come to mind are London, Tokyo, and New York. Yes, these cities might have the most headquarters for business. They might also be the most linked in the global network. However, in my opinion, these are not always the most important aspects of the "World City." The small coastal city of Barcelona, Spain has an incredibly important component that many global cities lack: culture.

Flying into BCN, the international airport that is currently undergoing extreme renovations to accommodate for the cities recent explosion of international fervor, one can immediately observe some history and culture from 30,000 feet. The Sagrada Familia pierces the Spanish skyline making it one of the largest buildings in Barcelona. Still uncompleted, this Gaudi masterpiece has been under construction for almost 100 years! Busy Catalans and wide-eyed tourist can be seen making their way down Las Ramblas, the main street in Barcelona which name is actually Islamic in origin. A quick tour of this small, roughly 35 square mile city will reveal its ancient origins and multi-cultural past.

The name Barcino was given to the region by the Carthaginians in the 3rd century BC. The land was believed to have been used by the Greeks and the Phoenicians as well, but never really settled on until the Carthaginians. Barcino was next taken by the powerful Romans when they expanded their empire in 206 BC. The city was conquered and the town was reserved for retired Roman generals due to its moderate climate and proximity to Rome. The city consisted of typical Roman necessities in terms of infrastructure: a sewer system, aquifers, theaters, roads and a port. Its inclusion in the Roman Empire meant that it was also connected to Roman schools of thought, Ideology, and trade networks. This was key to the development of the region and its people. After the fall of the Rome, tribes from Germany,