The Beginning of Valencia started in 138 B.C. when it was founded by Decimus Junis Brutus for the Romans (History of Valencia). It was very different from the Valencia we know today. Instead of being a major city let alone a capital, it was actually just land given to Roman soldiers who had fought in wars for the Romans. But there was a massive war between Pompey and Sertorius in which Valencia was with the losing side and was eventually destroyed by its enemy in the war. This was the very rough beginning of Valencia and it only gets invaded and changed many times after this. Valencia was rebuilt after its destruction and was turned into a city .
During this period of reconstruction, the city was turned into a more urban city and was turned into the capital due to the destruction of the last capital; this is why it is later on conquered by these many different leaders. The inhabitants had much wealth which helped the city gain many public buildings along with government buildings. Infrastructure was also built along with a large water supply. During this time, around 304 B.C, the borders of the city shrunk along with many parts of the city being left completely deserted and left to rot. In Rome there was a large uprising of Christianity which also affected Valencia. Little time after this, there was a few skirmishes of German attackers which caused the Roman government to lose power of the city and let the Christian city take control of the city. They replaced the Roman temples with Christian churches and later led to a small and short Byzantine invasion which ended in 625.
Later on, around 718, the Arabs invaded and took over Valencia. They implemented Islamic culture in a number of different ways. They were able to combine the languages of Spanish and the Arabic language at the time to get the Spanish we know today. The Arabs also replaced the number system and therefore introducing the value of zero that the roman numerals did not before have. There was also a introduction of the Spaniards to the study of chemistry. Chess which is also a very famous thing today was introduced to the Spaniards in the Arabic form. The guitar was also influenced and started during this time when the music and some instruments of the Arabic mixed with the Spanish music creating new melodies which were adapted to what would then become the guitar. Food was also introduced with many new spices never seen before by the Spanish. Geography was also affected as the names of many important locations including rivers were named borrowing over from a bit of the Arabic language . Many new crop growing techniques were introduced as well with the implementation of many canals and water systems. These techniques along with new crops caused the already rich Valencia to become even richer. This was another reason why many people targeted this city along with it being “modern,” and being a capital city. This wealth and knowledge of gardening also brought the rise of artful gardens in Valencia.
It was during this time of introduction and advancement that a leader even built a giant wall around the city to protect it from enemy invaders which would give the city a strategic value to the person who controlled it. Under the five centuries rule of the Arabs, the population of Valencia was able to grow by about 15000 people. But at one point, a Spanish soldier by the name of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, or, El Cid, was able to take the control of the city away from the Arabs. He was able to rule for the rest of his life until he died when the Arabs took the city back.
Later on, the Scottish king, King James of Aragon, took over Valencia and changed the city’s layout. He placed markets outside of the city and constructed churches for the city. He also made the Arabs relocate to the areas outside the city. He did this in spite that he did not try to destroy their culture let alone cause any harm to them. More monuments started to be built in Valencia for the next Millennia including a new wall around the city. A port was added to the city along with about 41 other monasteries that caused Valencia to get the title “The city of Monasteries and Convents.”
Some of Napoleon’s troops later on inhabited part of Valencia and demolished the great royal palace. They were later kicked out of the city after that scandal. The wall around the city was also torn down around the same time as this to expand the city. The city was also moved closer to the sea around this time as well. Jumping forward a few years, flooding became more frequent therefore the direction of the river near the city was changed in the direction it usually took. Jumping forward even more, the city even had roads built for more modern cars and the city was expanded even more.
During this period of reconstruction, the city was turned into a more urban city and was turned into the capital due to the destruction of the last capital; this is why it is later on conquered by these many different leaders. The inhabitants had much wealth which helped the city gain many public buildings along with government buildings. Infrastructure was also built along with a large water supply. During this time, around 304 B.C, the borders of the city shrunk along with many parts of the city being left completely deserted and left to rot. In Rome there was a large uprising of Christianity which also affected Valencia. Little time after this, there was a few skirmishes of German attackers which caused the Roman government to lose power of the city and let the Christian city take control of the city. They replaced the Roman temples with Christian churches and later led to a small and short Byzantine invasion which ended in 625.
Later on, around 718, the Arabs invaded and took over Valencia. They implemented Islamic culture in a number of different ways. They were able to combine the languages of Spanish and the Arabic language at the time to get the Spanish we know today. The Arabs also replaced the number system and therefore introducing the value of zero that the roman numerals did not before have. There was also a introduction of the Spaniards to the study of chemistry. Chess which is also a very famous thing today was introduced to the Spaniards in the Arabic form. The guitar was also influenced and started during this time when the music and some instruments of the Arabic mixed with the Spanish music creating new melodies which were adapted to what would then become the guitar. Food was also introduced with many new spices never seen before by the Spanish. Geography was also affected as the names of many important locations including rivers were named borrowing over from a bit of the Arabic language . Many new crop growing techniques were introduced as well with the implementation of many canals and water systems. These techniques along with new crops caused the already rich Valencia to become even richer. This was another reason why many people targeted this city along with it being “modern,” and being a capital city. This wealth and knowledge of gardening also brought the rise of artful gardens in Valencia.
It was during this time of introduction and advancement that a leader even built a giant wall around the city to protect it from enemy invaders which would give the city a strategic value to the person who controlled it. Under the five centuries rule of the Arabs, the population of Valencia was able to grow by about 15000 people. But at one point, a Spanish soldier by the name of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, or, El Cid, was able to take the control of the city away from the Arabs. He was able to rule for the rest of his life until he died when the Arabs took the city back.
Later on, the Scottish king, King James of Aragon, took over Valencia and changed the city’s layout. He placed markets outside of the city and constructed churches for the city. He also made the Arabs relocate to the areas outside the city. He did this in spite that he did not try to destroy their culture let alone cause any harm to them. More monuments started to be built in Valencia for the next Millennia including a new wall around the city. A port was added to the city along with about 41 other monasteries that caused Valencia to get the title “The city of Monasteries and Convents.”
Some of Napoleon’s troops later on inhabited part of Valencia and demolished the great royal palace. They were later kicked out of the city after that scandal. The wall around the city was also torn down around the same time as this to expand the city. The city was also moved closer to the sea around this time as well. Jumping forward a few years, flooding became more frequent therefore the direction of the river near the city was changed in the direction it usually took. Jumping forward even more, the city even had roads built for more modern cars and the city was expanded even more.