Regionalism is important in Spain due to a variety in physical environment (green mountains of Asturas, dry plateaus of Castilla, semi-tropical Andalusia), racial mixture (Iberian, Celtic, Germanic, Arabic) and history (Romanization 300BC - 400AD, Visagothis Rulers 409-711, Moslem culture 711-1030). The chief regions of Spain are Galicia, Asturias, the Basque provences, Navarra, León, Old Castilla, Aragón, Cataluña, Extremadura, New Castilla, Valencia, Andalusia, Granada and Murcia.

Beginning of the Spanish Language

Latin forms the basis of Spanish; other major elements are Arabic, Greek, French and Italian. Spanish emerged gradually from Vulgar Latin and became and independent language by the 10th century. Literature was first written in various dialects, but Castilian early became predominant. Notable linguistic texts are:

• Glosas emilianenses
• Glosas silences

Spanish Literature

• Middle Ages (mid-12th to mid15th century)
• Renaissance (mid-15th to mid-16th century)
• Golden Age (mid-16th to mid 17th century)
• Eighteenth Century
• Nineteenth Century
• Generation of 1898 (late-19th to early-20th century)
• Twentieth Century