The Ibearian Peninsuala, of which Spain forms a large part, was settled by Iberians, Basques, Phoenicians, Greeks, and Celts, before being overrun by Rome c. 150 BC. The Visigoths founded a kingdom in the 5th century AD, after the fall of the Roman Empire. The Moors, from North, came to power and established a civilization in Spain from 756 to 1492, when the kingdom of Granada fell and Spain became a bulwark of Roman Catholicism. It became a leading European power in the 16th century with many overseas possessions. It became a republic in 1931, and came under the fascist dictatorship of Franco following the Civil War (1936-39) until his death in 1975, when the monarchy was re-established.
The monarch is head of state. Executive power lies with the monarch and the government headed by the premier and cabinet. Legislative power lies with the parliament (Cortes Generales), consisting of the Senate, with 208 seats, and the Congress of Deputies with 350 seats. Members of both chambers are chosen by general election every 4 years.
