The Spanish State, forming the greater part of the Iberian Peninsula of southwest Europe, has an area of 194,884 sq. mi. (504,750 sq. km.) and a population of 40.5 million including the Balearic and the Canary Islands. Capital: Madrid. The economy is based on agriculture, industry and tourism. Machinery, fruit, vegetables and chemicals are exported. ,It is not known when man first came to the Iberian Peninsula ? the Altamira caves off the Cantabrian coast approximately 50 miles west of Santander were fashioned in Paleolithic times. Spain was a battleground for centuries before it became a united nation, fought by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Celts, Romans, Vandals, Visigoths and Moors. Ferdinand and Isabella destroyed the last Moorish stronghold in 1492, freeing the national energy and resources for the era of discovery and colonization that would make Spain the most powerful country in Europe during the 16th century. After the destruction of the Spanish Armada, 1588, Spain never again played a major role in European politics. Napoleonic France ruled Spain between 1808 and 1814. The monarch y was restored in 1814 and continued, interrupted by the sort-lived republic of 1873-74, until the exile of Alfonso XIII in 1931, when the Second Republic was established. A bloody civil war ensued in 1936, and Francisco Franco established himself as ruler of fascist Spain after his forces, aided in by the Italians and especially the Germans, defeated the Republican forces.,, ,The monarchy was reconstituted in 1947 under the regency of General Francisco Franco, the king designate to be crowned after Franco?s death. Franco died on Nov. 30, 1975. Two days after his passing, Juan Carlos de Borbon, the grandson of Alfonso XIII, was proclaimed King of Spain.,, Rulers:,,, ,Ferdinand VII, 1808-1833,, ,Isabella II, 1833-1868,, ,Amadeo I, 1871-1873,, ,Regency, 1874,, ,Alfonso XII, 1875-1885,, ,Alfonso XIII, 1886-1931,, ,2nd Republic and Civil War, 1932-1936,, ,Francisco Franco, regent, 1937-1975,, ,Juan Carlos I, 1975-,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Peseta = 100 Centimos, 1874-2001,,