Gibraltar (GB) - Gibraltar history
The
rock
of
Gibraltar
occupies
a
strategic
position
at
the
eastern
entrance
to
the
narrow
strait
and
guards
the
only
exit
from
the
Mediterranean to
the
wide
ocean
beyond.
Gibraltar
has
been
in
the
historical
limelight
for
over
3,000
years.
4,000
years
ago
the
ancient
mariners
daren't
pass
the
rock
for
fear
of
the
currents.
The
Phoenicians
sailed
past
it
and
used
it
as
an
important
landmark,
marking
the
entrance
to
the
Atlantic.
The
Greeks
gave
it
the
name Calpe which
means
urn,
possibly
because
of
its
shape.
The
present
name
of
Gibraltar
comes
from
the
Arabs
who
invaded
Spain
in
the
VIII
century.
Tarik
was
the
leader
of
the
invading
army.
Since
then
the
rock
has
been
known
as Gibel
Tarik -
the
mountain
of
Tarik.
The
Arabic
name
has
altered
over
the
centuries
to
its
present
form
of
Gibraltar.
Tarik
did
not
build
the
Moorish
castle,
nor
did
he
found
the
city.
Both
were
built
five
centuries
after
his
death.
He
did
however
build
a
fortification
along
where
Southport
Gates
now
stand
and
up
the
side
of
the
rock.
It
was
in
1160
that
the
city
was founded
by
the
Sultan
of
Morocco,
Abd-al-Mummin
who
built
a
castle
and
citadel.
The
first
town
was
very
small.
200
years
later
after
the
fall
of
Algeciras
to
the
Christian
forces,
the
city
of
Gibraltar
was
extended
as
far
as
Southport
Gates.
The
present
line
of
Main
Street
is
almost
the
same
today
as
it
was
600
years
ago
when
it
was
built
by
the
Muslims.
It was
during
the
capture
of
Gibraltar
by
the
Castillians
(1309-1333)
that
the
streets
of
the
lower
town
were
constructed
and
Gibraltar
became
a
substantial
city. |
