The Iberian Peninsula runs from the Pyrenean Mountains in the north to the Straits of Gibraltar in the south. Barcelona is in the north-eastern corner of the Iberian Peninsula. The first inhabitants of Barcelona were Iberians. Around 250 BC, Greeks and Carthaginians came across the Mediterranean. A Carthaginian called Amilcar Barca was the founder of the city. The city was called Barcino. The Greeks and Carthaginians brought trade to the city. The Romans became the rulers of Barcino in 200 BC. The Romans built the walls around the city. Iberia was invaded around AD 400 by the Goths. The Goths came from north-eastern Europe. A Goth king, King Ataulf, made Barcelona his capital. The Muslims came from North Africa. They invaded the Iberian Peninsula around AD 700. Christians and Muslims fought many battles. Barcelona was conquered by the Muslims in AD 800. Later, it was conquered by the Franks. Barcelona became an independent city in AD 900. It was ruled by Guifrè, the Count of Barcelona. He was also called 'el Pilos' (the Hairy).

In the Middle Ages (AD 400-1500), Catalonia was part of the most powerful kingdom in the Mediterranean. King James the First (The Conqueror) sent ships to Italy, Greece, Egypt and the Middle East. Barcelona became a centre for Mediterranean trade. The traders of Barcelona competed with the traders of Genoa, Pisa and Venice. In 1265, King James gave the city its first democratic parliament. It was called Consell de Cent. Some of the most beautiful buildings in Barcelona were built at this time. They were built in the part of the city now called the Gothic Quarter.

In 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered America. He came to Barcelona and offered the new lands to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. But the discovery of America was not good for the ports on the coast of the Mediterranean. Traders moved to Cádiz and Sevilla, ports in south-west Spain. Barcelona became less important. There were other important changes in the Middle Ages. Madrid became the capital of the new Spanish Empire. In the 1700s there was a war about who was going to rule Spain. Barcelona lost its independence in 1714. Part of the city was destroyed.

The Spanish Industrial Revolution began in Barcelona in the 1900s. Barcelona grew much bigger. Once again it became an important city. Streets and houses were built outside the old city walls. The architect, Ildefons Cerda (1815-76), designed a new town. The houses had gardens inside and outside. Two World Exhibitions were held in Barcelona. The first was in 1888 and the second was in 1929. Barcelona became a world centre of modern literature, music and art.

The Spanish Civil War (1936-39) and the military dictatorship (1939-76) were difficult times throughout Spain. Thousands of Spaniards came to Barcelona to find jobs and homes. Today, Barcelona is the centre of Government and Parliament for Catalonia. The city is changing all the time. New squares and parks are being built. The transport systems are being improved all the time. Barcelona is looking towards the future.