Ethnicities of the Iberian Peninsula

[luiz]

The Iberian Peninsula is a place where different peoples mixed up in many periods of history. I always had some doubts regarding this subject, and maybe someone here could help me clear them up:

1-The romans called the original inhabbitants of the Iberian Peninsula "Iberians". But who were those Iberians? Were they a celtic tribe, perhaps?

2-Carthage had numerous colonies in Southern Spain. Did they leave descendents? Are there people who have carthagian ancestry in modern Spain?

3-Which is the predominant ethinicity of the Iberian Peninsula? Is it "Old Iberian"? Roman? Visigothic? Moorish? I know that most people there have a mixed ancestry, but which of those is the most common?

 

[pawpaw]

The Iberian Peninsula is a place where different peoples mixed up in many periods of history. I always had some doubts regarding this subject, and maybe someone here could help me clear them up:

1-The romans called the original inhabbitants of the Iberian Peninsula "Iberians". But who were those Iberians? Were they a celtic tribe, perhaps?

the iberians were the native population. the northern half of the country was celt-iberian, as celts tribes from gaul had mingled in.

2-Carthage had numerous colonies in Southern Spain. Did they leave descendents? Are there people who have carthagian ancestry in modern Spain?

the greeks and carthage had colonies--just that colonies. soldiers,merchants,traders--not farmers or settlers. plus you had the vandals, alani,suevi and goths giving a germanic flavor.

3-Which is the predominant ethinicity of the Iberian Peninsula? Is it "Old Iberian"? Roman? Visigothic? Moorish? I know that most people there have a mixed ancestry, but which of those is the most common?

none, the lines have mix and match 100's of times, there is no comman ethincity

 

[yaroslav]

The Iberian Peninsula is a place where different peoples mixed up in many periods of history. I always had some doubts regarding this subject, and maybe someone here could help me clear them up:

1-The romans called the original inhabbitants of the Iberian Peninsula "Iberians". But who were those Iberians? Were they a celtic tribe, perhaps?

2-Carthage had numerous colonies in Southern Spain. Did they leave descendents? Are there people who have carthagian ancestry in modern Spain?

3-Which is the predominant ethinicity of the Iberian Peninsula? Is it "Old Iberian"? Roman? Visigothic? Moorish? I know that most people there have a mixed ancestry, but which of those is the most common?

Luiz, I don't see too much differences between Iberian and French etchinities, to call an example

 

[luiz]

Luiz, I don't see too much differences between Iberian and French etchinities, to call an example

But the french were not affected by certain peoples that are now part of the Iberian gene pool like the Moors and (perhaps?)the Carhagians/Phoenicians.

 

[pkmink]

1-The romans called the original inhabbitants of the Iberian Peninsula "Iberians". But who were those Iberians? Were they a celtic tribe, perhaps?

I think they are officially called "Celtiberians", although I been to "Iberian" settlements near Valencia, and to "Celtic" settlements (called "Castro's" in Spanish) in Galicia, near Santiago. Originally two distinct groups, with Iberians as the original, oldest, population of the peninsula. Celts came later, and intermingled heavily with the Iberians, later Carthage influences, the Greeks came, the Romans, the Visigoths and finally the Moors.

2-Carthage had numerous colonies in Southern Spain. Did they leave descendents? Are there people who have carthagian ancestry in modern Spain?

Seems unlikely, since the Carthages left Spain 2000+ years ago. Traces of their culture can still be found along the coast, especially in the city they founded: Cadiz.

3-Which is the predominant ethinicity of the Iberian Peninsula? Is it "Old Iberian"? Roman? Visigothic? Moorish? I know that most people there have a mixed ancestry, but which of those is the most common?

I have travelled extensively throughout Spain, my wife is Spanish (half Valencian, half Castillian, with Basque, Jewish, Italian ancestors as well), and I can say that it is a total melting pot. It's very hard to see any ethnic origin from an Andalucian or an Asturian. I did however see more blue eyed blond people with a pale skin in Galicia (they say the Celtic origins), and in Andalucia I saw more slightly darker-skinned people (supposedly indicating Moorish origins). But between a Madrileno, somebody from Castille-y-Leon province and a Valencian I don't see any difference.

 

[luiz]

pkmink

What you said really makes sense. My paternal grandfather was spanish from Galicia, and he was pale-skinned and blue eyed. On my maternal side, OTOH, I had a great-grandmother from Sevilla that had olive skin and dark hair and eyes. If I didn't know I'd say they were from two totally different countries!

 

[NeoDemocrat]

Race/ethnicity is such a complicated issue that I don't see how you could consider Spain anything; some may argue they are Iberian, Celtic, Latin(o/a)... it is really too sticky of a subject to decipher.

 

[yaroslav]

I think they are officially called "Celtiberians", although I been to "Iberian" settlements near Valencia, and to "Celtic" settlements (called "Castro's" in Spanish) in Galicia, near Santiago. Originally two distinct groups, with Iberians as the original, oldest, population of the peninsula. Celts came later, and intermingled heavily with the Iberians, later Carthage influences, the Greeks came, the Romans, the Visigoths and finally the Moors.

Celtiberian is the name of a little tribe that was the mixture of Celts and Iberians, but of Iberian culture IIRC. Iberian and Celts were basically separated in ancient Spain, IIRC.

Seems unlikely, since the Carthages left Spain 2000+ years ago. Traces of their culture can still be found along the coast, especially in the city they founded: Cadiz.

Málaga too was founded by people from Carthago.

I have travelled extensively throughout Spain, my wife is Spanish (half Valencian, half Castillian, with Basque, Jewish, Italian ancestors as well), and I can say that it is a total melting pot. It's very hard to see any ethnic origin from an Andalucian or an Asturian. I did however see more blue eyed blond people with a pale skin in Galicia (they say the Celtic origins), and in Andalucia I saw more slightly darker-skinned people (supposedly indicating Moorish origins). But between a Madrileno, somebody from Castille-y-Leon province and a Valencian I don't see any difference.

I'm half Spanish, half German and I was born in Andalucia. I can't tell the difference of people from any part of Spain, although it's true that people from the North is a little more "pale" than people from the South

 

[Thorgalaeg]

Seems unlikely, since the Carthages left Spain 2000+ years ago. Traces of their culture can still be found along the coast, especially in the city they founded: Cadiz.

Indeed, Cadiz was founded by the Phoenicians 3000+ years ago. Two or three centuries before Carthago was founded.

 

[yaroslav]

I guess there was a little overuesd of Carthago here... I'm sure we're all refering to Phonecians

 

[pkmink]

Yes, claro, I meant the Phoenicians

 

[Loaf Warden]

Málaga too was founded by people from Carthago.

Cartagena as well, ¿verdad? Hence the name, if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Thorgalaeg]

Yes, Cartagena was founded much later by the General Asdrubal, Brother-in-law and tutor of Anibal.

 

[yaroslav]

In fact Cartagena came from Carthago Nova And it has remained as one of the most important military ports of Spain since then.

 

[Alone]

I think that the old Greeks had there colonies at Iberia near Valencia....but I'm not sure.

Can someone tell me how big is the diference between Galicians and Portugese (Are they closer by language and tradition /customs/ to Portugese or to Castilians)?

 

[yaroslav]

Yes, Greek also has colonies in East Spain, in the coast...

About Galicians and Portugese, yes, they are, or better, they were very culture-related, but they have had different evolutions that have make them be today more different than they were. Customs, I'll see it's a mixture of Castilians and Portugese.... Language, on the other hand, is very closed to Portuguese.

 

[Alone]

Yes, Greek also has colonies in East Spain, in the coast...

About Galicians and Portugese, yes, they are, or better, they were very culture-related, but they have had different evolutions that have make them be today more different than they were. Customs, I'll see it's a mixture of Castilians and Portugese.... Language, on the other hand, is very closed to Portuguese.

Thanks yaroslav.

 

[yaroslav]

BTW, now that I see you signature, you maybe would like to know - if you don't already know that - that Galician people is though to be of great celt heritage. Even today, the people from Galicia consider the bagpiper to be their most clasical instrument...

 

[Alone]

BTW, now that I see you signature, you maybe would like to know - if you don't already know that - that Galician people is though to be of great celt heritage. Even today, the people from Galicia consider the bagpiper to be their most clasical instrument...

Wow, aditional information
In my country we also have bagpiper (tho it's not that common as in Scotland or Ireland) and the music is quit simular to nowdays Irish folk and even dance is very simular. But I'm not Celt (just come from the part were they were settled before my nation, just in case you didn't know about this )

edit: But who knows, maybe all Serbs have a part of Celts blood (judging by wild behavours)
edit2: Second part of signiture is my present location

 

[yaroslav]

Wow, aditional information
In my country we also have bagpiper (tho it's not that common as in Scotland or Ireland) and the music is quit simular to nowdays Irish folk and even dance is very simular. But I'm not Celt (just come from the part were they were settled before my nation, just in case you didn't know about this )

edit: But who knows, maybe all Serbs have a part of Celts blood (judging by wild behavours)
edit2: Second part of signiture is my present location

IIRC the Celt settlment around Europe was impressive - until it was somewhat destroyed by Roman/Germanic conlonization.

Here you have some examples of Galician bagpipers:

http://www.realbanda.com/gal/album.htm... click in the images to enlarge them

EDIT: Former image removed. I apologize, I didn't notice that it was previous to the 11-S and the skyline was so visible... I apologize.