The Romans invaded the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Spain and Portugal) in the year 218 B.C. and it took them two centuries to complete their conquest over the various people groups living there.
Under the Roman Empire, the Romans referred to this territory as Hispania, and they remained there for around seven centuries in total, until the Visigoths invaded in the 5th century.
Despite the fact that around two thousand years have now passed since the Roman Empire expanded across the Iberian Peninsula, their influence is still significant in Spain today.
Roman ruins
There are many Roman ruins all across Spain that testify to the Roman presence in the country. Some of the best-preserved ruins can be seen at Baelo Claudia, right at the southernmost tip of Andalusia.
And at Mérida, in Extremadura, you can see a Roman amphitheatre, circus and temple of Diana. If you are near Madrid, you can take a day trip to visit the city of Segovia and see the stunning two-tier Roman aqueduct.
Language
The Spanish language of today stems from the vulgar Latin that was spoken by the Romans living in Hispania. It isn’t the only modern language stemming from vulgar Latin (now no longer spoken) either in Europe or even Spain itself.
Excepting Basque, the other languages spoken in Spain today (Catalan, Galician, Asturian, Valencian, Navarre and Aragonese) stem from vulgar Latin. This has to be one of the most significant examples of the Roman influence in modern-day Spain.
Law
Spanish law has also been developed out of Roman law, a legal system that is based on codes, as opposed to common law, which is based on precedent.
Religion
Another significant aspect of Spanish culture that stems back to the Romans is the practice of Christianity.
The Romans were initially polytheistic, worshipping lots of different gods and goddesses. Christians were routinely persecuted and brutally murdered.
However, Emperor Theodosius I became a Christian and in 392 AD, he banned the practice of pagan religions and imposed Christianity as the official and exclusive religion of the Roman Empire.
Christianity has shaped Spanish culture for centuries, although trends have changed in recent years.
And, of course, when the Spanish conquistadors sailed to the Americas many centuries after the Romans had left Spain, they carried the Spanish language, law and religion (all derived from the Romans) to what is now Latin America.
As you can see, the influence of the Roman Empire on Spain and, to a lesser extent, Latin America, spans the architecture, language, law, religion and much more besides.
Find out more in this presentation on the Roman influence in Spain, the perfect Spanish teaching resource about the Roman influence in Spain.