A Brief History

Ancient remains and cave drawings have been found throughout Mallorca dating from around 7000BC. From 2000BC, modest-sized Bronze Age settlements marked the appearance of greater social organisation. Around 1300BC, buildings called 'talayots' began to be constructed throughout the Balearics from large blocks of stone. Over 400 talayotic sites have been found on Mallorca - for further information, there are two web sites listed at the end of this chapter. Tiring of attacks on their ships, the Romans invaded in 123BC. They colonised the island, the main settlements being around present-day Palma and Alcúdia. The Romans were followed by the Vandals, who conducted a series of raids, finally occupying the island in AD465. In AD534 Byzantine forces expelled the Vandals, followed by the Arabic Moors in AD902, who built terraces and irrigation systems for the cultivation of oranges, olives, and other traditional crops. King Jaime I of Aragon successfully invaded Mallorca in 1229. After the death of Jaime I in 1276, Mallorca became an independent kingdom under Jaime II, the son of Jaime I. A renewed period of prosperity and culture ensued, during which many of the finest buildings were constructed. Control of the island passed between Catalonia and Aragon until 1349 when Jaime III was decisively defeated at the battle of Llucmajor and the Balearics again became part of Aragon. After almost 150 years of battles and scheming, Spain became a united country in 1492 under Ferdinand (of Aragon) and Isabella (of Castile).