Málaga

Situation

Located at the mouth of the Guadalmedina, this vast very white agglomeration is dominated by Gibralfaro, the “hill of the headlight”, crowned walls of the 14th century. The situation of Málaga, vis-a-vis the coast Morocco groin and with the outlet of the terrestrial ways going down from the highlands of Grenade and from the Guadalquivir, in made the main city of the Littoral the Mediterranean N of the Andalusia.

Economy

The city underwent material changes during the 30 last years, because of its economic development, concentrated on the littoral fringe. The preponderance of the service sector, the high percentage of construction and weak the Industrialization constituted the large features characteristic of this development. Fishing preserves however a relative importance within the local economy, as well as agriculture (wine and agribusiness industry). The sectors of hotel trade, the trade, transport and the communication are today those which experience a regular development in the area owing to the fact that this one tends to becoming one of tourist of the Mediterranean. The port of Málaga has an activity of important fishing, trade and transport.

History

Foundation

Málaga was founded by the Phéniciens at 7th front century J.C under the name of Malakka with the foot of the hill of Gibralfaro.

In -573, the city passes under the control of the Carthaginois and until in -218 will remain it where it becomes Roman following the Punic Wars. The city develops, in particular thanks to its port. Under Auguste it obtains a theater. The city is known for its exports of Garum towards Rome.

Following the decline of the Roman power, Malaca is successively conquered by the Visigoth S in 411 a. J.C., the Byzantine emperor Justinien, then taken again by the Visigoths in 615.

Moslem period

Catch first once in 716 by Arabic, the city is definitively conquered in 743 and is annexed to the Émirat of Cordoue in 755.

In 858, Malaga is plundered by the chief Viking Hasting.

The Moslem period sees its campaign and urban development, thanks to the improvement of the irrigation outlined by the Romans. The fortresses of Alcazaba (as from the 11th century) and of Gibralfaro (14th century) are built.

The city crosses the political disturbances by reinforcing its power thanks to its port, its Shipyard, the Atarazanas . Génois install a counter in the city which becomes, with the revival of the connections between the the Mediterranean and the north of Europe, a big step of the lines of trade.

The Reconquista and incorporation in Spain

The city falls to the hands from the Christians the August 13rd 1487, after hard combat. The Royaume of Grenade loses its principal maritime outlet and will fall five years later.

The province is colonized by Andalusian Castilians and bottoms. The kings take part in the development of the city, which stagnates however until the 18th century and suffers from floods, wars and epidemics.

Malaga of 1800 with today

The city is occupied by the Napoleonean troops of January 1810 at August 1812. Thereafter, Malaga becomes the pionnière city of the Industrial revolution in Spain (then doubled by Barcelona), in particular specialized in the Sidérurgie. The train of Cordoue reaches the city in 1865.

As in the whole of Spain, the disorders are numerous at the 19th century, which does not prevent the city from enjoying a certain prosperity thanks to its industrial activities and to the export of the agricultural produce (dry oil, wine and grapes mainly).

The first communist deputy of Spain east elected in Malaga in 1933. In 1937 the nationalist, Free and troops take the city.

The crisis of the years 1940 yields the place to the emigration in the years 1950, then with economic development thanks to tourism starting from 1960. The university is created in 1972.

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