Page 38 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Mallorca, Menorca & Ibiza

36  INTRODUCING THE BALEARIC ISLANDS THE HIST OR Y OF THE BALEARIC ISLANDS  37

explore the Balearic Islands in the early 7th Romana brought cotton and, on
century BC. In 654, they took Ibiza, where prosperity: Roman terraced hillsides,
they founded the fortified capital of Eivissa settlers planted vine­ oranges, limes and
(the famous Carthaginian general, Hannibal, yards, built roads and olives. In 1114, Muslim
is thought to have been born on Ibiza). founded Palmeria rule was interrupted
After conquering the entire archipelago, and Pollentia, a when an army of
they founded new towns, including Jamna settlement near 70,000 Italian and
(Ciutadella) and Maghen (Maó) in Menorca. Alcúdia in Mallorca. Catalan soldiers
The Balearic Islands played a strategic role They also founded attacked Ibiza and
during the Punic Wars. Following their defeat Portus Magonis (Maó) A mosaic from the Calvià library, Mallorca, showing Mallorca. Supported
at Zama in 202 BC, the Carthiginians were in Menorca, which the conquest of Mallorca by the Arabs in 904 by the pope, the
Temple at Torralba d’en Salord, a Talayotic settlement in Menorca crushed. Soon afterwards, they left Mallorca subsequently became Christian troops slaugh­
and Menorca but remained in Ibiza for a the island’s capital and extended the tered most of the Muslims and set sail,
Phoenicians, Greeks further 70 years. Phoenician port, Sanisera, making it one filling their ships with spoils. The Moors
and Carthaginians of the biggest harbours of the empire. quickly re­established themselves, however,
The Phoenicians arrived in the islands in the Roman Empire and Byzantium By the 3rd century AD, the expansion and flourished once again under the rule
early part of the 1st millennium BC. They The Romans conquered Ibiza in 146 BC. of Christianity had begun on the islands. of the Almoravids, a Berber dynasty from
founded a trading settlement, Sanisera, Meanwhile, the inhabitants of Mallorca and Roman rule was already in decline when, in North Africa. Reminders of Moorish
on the northern coast of Menorca. Two Menorca, taking advantage of the political 425, the Vandals invaded and destroyed both presence on the islands include the
hundred years later, the islands attracted upheavals, turned to piracy. This lasted until the Roman and Christian cultural heritages. agricultural terraces, architecture and
the attention of the Greeks, who were 123 BC, when the Roman Consul Quintus Subsequently, the Byzantine army led designs for embroidery and ceramics.
exploring the western regions of the Metellus occupied the islands. He was by Belisarius expelled the Vandal tribes
Mediterranean. The Greeks did not settle awarded the honorary title of Balearico from the Balearic Islands. For over 100
in the Balearics, as they lacked the metal for his deeds. Roman rule lasted for over years the islands remained within the
ores that would have made the islands 500 years and the islands were renamed: sphere of influence of the Byzantine
suitable for colonization. They were also Balearis Major (Mallorca), Balearis Minor Empire. This ensured their stability until
discouraged by the hostile reception from (Menorca) and Ebusus (Ibiza). The Pax the declining empire came under attack
the local inhabitants. But the – first from pirates, then from the Vikings
archipelago owes its name to and, finally, from the Arabs.
the Greeks. It derives from the
Greek word ballein (to throw The Moors
from a sling). The islanders were The conquest of Menorca and Mallorca
famed as outstanding slingshots by the Emir of Cordoba at the beginning
and, more than once, made life of the 10th century marks the start of
a misery for various raiders. Moorish influence over the islands, which
The Carthaginians also took an lasted for more than three centuries. During
interest in trade in the western this period the Muslims transformed the
region of the Mediterranean. Balearic Islands, introducing new irrigation Arab Bath in Palma, one of few surviving relics of Muslim culture
Carthaginian sailors started to Ruins of the Christian basilica in Son Bou, Menorca techniques, planting crops like rice and on the islands

Sacking of Pollentia 798 Raid by
by Vandals Moorish pirates 1085 Islands gain the
800 BC Twilight of the 654 BC Carthaginians conquer Ibiza 202 BC Carthaginians status of caliphate ruled by
Talayotic civilization. Greeks defeated at Zama the Almoravids
visit the islands 707 First raids by the Arabs
1000 BC 700 BC 400 BC 100 BC100 BC AD 200 500 800 1100

Around 1000 BC 146 BC Romans 426 Vandal invasion 859 Vikings raid the islands 1114 Mallorca invaded,
Phoenician merchants conquer Ibiza unsuccessfully, by
arrive on the islands Figurine of the goddess 533 Beginning of Byzantine rule over 902 Mallorca becomes a member Christian army – “Small
Tanit, 2nd century BC the archipelago of the Cordoba Caliphate Crusade”

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