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History of Barcelona
The works of Gaudi are inseparable from his city - Barcelona. In order to
better understand Gaudi's art one should be at least familiar with the city's
history.
Barcelona was settled by Iberian tribes, who were followed by Phoenicians. Its ancient name Barcino may derive from Carthaginian Barca family. Afterwards the Romans, Visigoths and Arabs controlled the city before it became the center of a Frankish county in 801. During the war of Spanish independence Barcelona was conquered and greatly diminished in its importance.
Barcelona recovered in the 18th century through agricultural and textile industries. Despite Napoleonic occupation between 1808 and 1813, the loss of New World colonies, and regional conflicts, industrialization in the 19th century promoted a renewal for the city, including renaissance for the Catalan language and literature.
During the first half of the 20th century Barcelona went through several periods of social unrest and turmoil. However, after the World War II due to the economic growth and political changes Barcelona greatly improved its status on the national and international scenes. The 1992 Olimpics was the sign of that recognition and showcased Barcelona as the center of sports, culture and tourism.