Historia
Prehistory
The first inhabitants of the Balearic Islands came to the islands around 5,000 BC. However, the oldest archaeological remains date back to 2,000 BC, indicating that this was a population that lived in caves or in habitats built with stones and covered with branches, seaweed, and land. Their society was well organized, hierarchical, and fed the people by the produce of their rudimentary agriculture, livestock and fishing, and gathering fruits, eggs, and shellfish.
From the remains found so far, the best preserved site that can be visited is the megalithic tomb of Ca na Costa in Formentera.
The Greeks
The Greeks visited Ibiza and Formentera in the eighth century BC. Although they did not establish stable colonies, fortunately they gave us a name that still endures: Pitiusas, meaning "island of pines."
Phoenicians and Carthaginians
When the Phoenicians landed in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, they decided to broaden their horizons by establishing new colonies and commercial areas along the Mediterranean, and founded the city of Ibiza Ibsm-current-in 654 BC. When they landed in Ibiza, they found a hill that contained a large natural harbor that was easily defensible against the enemy, close to a fertile plain with plenty of water which would produce enough food for self-sufficiency, as well as a large amount of salt in the area required for what would become a thriving fish salting.
It was the ideal place to establish the new colony in honor of the god Bes, Ibsm call.
The new location, which at first was merely a stopover port where a small group of stores and military units soon began to have an industry itself, which escalated into Ibsm, one of the most populous and prosperous cities of the time. Coming to count in the early fourth century BC, with a population of 4 or 5,000.
Politically, during the Punic Ibsm enjoyed broad autonomy of its metropolis, Carthage, even coining its own currency. Ibsm became, after the fall of Carthage by the wars with Rome, the leading city of commerce in the western Mediterranean.
The Roman Ebusus
Carthage was destroyed by Roman forces, the island becomes the Romans Ebusus to the first century of our era. The Romans would come to give at some point a major political autonomy to the metropolis. The Roman domination would continue for a period of more than five centuries.
Vandals and Byzantines
In the V century, following a vandal attack against the Balearic Islands, Ibiza and Formentera were annexed to the North African Genseric Vandal Empire. Vandal's presence barely left a mark on the islands.
In the year 534 Pitiusas and the rest of the Balearic Islands are occupied by the Byzantines.
The Moslem
The Muslims came to the Pitusa early seventh century, but in 902 Emir Abdullah formally annexed Yebisah (Ibiza) the Caliphate of Cordoba.
The Arabs left a deep mark on Ibiza and Formentera, they populated and greatly enriched the agriculture, waterworks and culture.
The Catalan conquest
It took place on August 8, 1235, by the king of the Crown of Aragon Jaume I the Conqueror, promoted by the archbishop-elect of Tarragona, William Montgrí. Thus, the Pitiusas rejoined Christendom and the Western world.
The "castellanización" of the islands
Over five centuries, the relationship of the Balearic Islands and Catalonia was very close. This ended in the seventeenth century, because of the War of Spanish Succession, which was victorious for Felipe V. Since then, the islands were incorporated into the Castilian system.
The mass tourism of the 60's
Until this decade, they were virtually unchanged islands with no social or economic importance. The arrival of tourism and the opening of the airport of Ibiza in 1958 are two milestones of paramount importance that have shaped the modern development of the islands to its current situation.
Today
Ibiza and Formentera today are an amalgam of cultures, with people from over eighty different nationalities from all over the world, forming the new population of the island in this century.
The Pitiusas have always welcomed visitors who have felt inspired by the peace and natural beauty of the islands. Now we must continue building a harmonious community that respects their natural environment, working together towards a sustainable future.
