HISTORY OF THE

REGION OF MURCIA
 ORIGINS
The oldest traces of human presence in
the region of Murcia seem to soar to
over a million and a half years. Of them
we have received only a few remnants of
flint tools as a further elaboration.
The Phoenicians established a factory in
Mastia (Cartagena), and so began our
teritorry business relations with the
rest of the Mediterranean.
Carthaginians founded Qart Hadasht in
the year 229 BC and it was the second
largest city of Carthage in the Punic
empire.
During The Roman period, Murcia did no
exist but its actual borders could have
been inside of the province of Hispania
Carthaginensis.
Later the Moors introduced the large-
scale irrigation on which Murcian
agriculture depends
The kingdom of Murcia became
independent as a taifa centered on the
Moorish city of Murcia after the fall of
the Omayyad Caliphate of Córdoba (11th
century). Moorish Taifa of Murcia
included Albacete and part of Almería
as well.
Ferdinand III of Castile received the
submission of the Moorish king of
Murcia in 1243.
In the usual way, the Muslims were evicted
from the cities, and Ferdinand's heir Alfonso
X of Castile, who benefited from rule over a
largely depopulated Murcia, divided the
border kingdom in three regions for
administrative purposes, entrusted
respectively to the “concejos de realengo”, to
the ecclesiastical “señores seculares” and to
the Military Orders founded in the 11th
century. Alfonso annexed the Taifa of Murcia
as King of Murcia and “Señorio” of Cartagena
outright in 1266, and it remained technically a
vassal kingdom of Spain until the reforms in
the liberal constitution of 1812. Murcia
became an autonomous region in 1982.
The Castilian conquest of Murcia was
significant because it gave the former
access to the Mediterranean for the
first time and ended the expansion of
the Kingdom of Aragon which had been
moving south along the coast.

The castle of Lorca

 Murcia in the modern age

After the interval the War of Spanish Succession

(1702-1713) there is a new recovery process was
dramatically increased the cultivated area,
expanding irrigated areas, the population increase
and a great start to notice the effects of the
gradual opening commercial. As in other times, the
glory is reflected in an economic boom in
construction. Of note is the completion of the
Cathedral of Murcia, which began in 1394, and
construction of the Arsenal of Cartagena.
The nineteenth century opened with a new crisis
caused by a period of drought followed by
major floods and the war against Napoleon.
We will have to wait for half a century to
reverse the situation. The business then
expanded its scope to the exploitation of
mineral deposits, also initiated the process of
industrialization. Despite that the region
would reach the twentieth century with a
precarious situation, an industry based on
foreign capital and trade that had not been
able to pass on regional boundaries. With the
dictatorship of Primo de Rivera (1923-1929)
Murcia joins the pace definitely pushing the
country's industry, strengthening the areas
of preserved citrus and pepper and modernize
its agriculture.
 Molina
The Arab Origins
Molina de Segura comes at a crossroads
linking Alicante with Cordoba and Chinchilla in
Cartagena, in addition to side with steps Mula
and Fortuna. There was a house or hostel in
which walkers rested. The Arabs built a
fortress strengthened with the passage of
time.
The medieval town of Molina de Segura was
located a short distance from Murcia.
For centuries it was maintained the
crossroads as the main route, leaving the
passage Murcia in the background.
The arab wall in Molina
the Segura

An arab coin
Following his tenure at the hands of Christian dominion
was developed greater Kingdom of Murcia
With the King Alfonso X the Wise, it reached the
stage where christian went to Molina through several
hands. First, it was transferred to the brother of the
king after the Arab riots. Later, the Infante Don
Juan Manuel not only looked for good, but he also was
the king ceded on loan .

  In the twentieth century, it was renamed as Molina

de Segura, and it was the business of manufacture of
paprika, preserved in small family businesses, etc..
that will be transformed into thriving businesses with
the course of the century.
TOURISTIC PLACES
 Costa Cálida
Two seas on one coast (the Mar Menor
and the Mediterranean), dramatic
cliffs, secluded beaches and paradise of
endless white sand beaches and bustling
harbors. More than 3000 hours of
sunshine a year and mild temperatures
(even in winter). This is the Costa
Calida, in winter or summer.
Cartagena, a city in the Mediterranean,
castles and conserves batteries. The
port of Cartagena is an attractive place
surrounded by restaurants.
Lorca, its famous castle, and its
expressive Easter, marked by the
appearance of their processions.
In Caravaca de la Cruz, there are
beautiful churches, monasteries and
shrines. It is now a reference point for
many pilgrims. The city has got a piece
of the true cross of the Lord.
There are cave paintings in some caves,
castles, temples, churches ...

There are some beautiful natural places

like Sierra La Pila and Sierra Espuña.

Murcia is the capital of the Community.

Some pictures of Molina

Some pictures of Murcia

By: María Illán Rivera
Bea López Mondejar
Cristina Ruiz Sánchez
3ºA Bilingüe 2008/2009