This portion is meant to be a brief overview of the country of Spain so as to better understand the work going on there. _____________________________________

Spain gives every visitor a history lesson. Walking the streets, sitting in the plaza, and surveying the countryside all point to a history that is deep, a history that continues to shape the people today.

The first main civilization that left a permanent and widespread mark on the country was that of the Romans. Rome ruled the Iberian Peninsula, which they called Hispania, for more than six centuries (218 BC to AD 409) (Williams, 2009). You can see their handiwork in nearly every direction.

Aqueducts

The aqueduct in Segovia was ordered in the first century by Emperor Domitian (AD 81-96, about the time Matthew was being written). It is part of the canal process used to bring water from the Fuente Fria river into the city, about 20 miles. At its highest point it is over 93 feet high.

Bridges

This bridge crossing the river next to Salamanca is still in use. Of its arches, fifteen are Roman of the 1st century AD.

Walls

Many of the large cities in Spain still have portions of their city walls still standing, and some have the entire wall (Avila). These walls were not all built by the Romans, but their engineering can be seen quite clearly.

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Spain’s history is not merely a thing of the past. It is a crucial element in the lives of the people today. In order to better understand them, one must seek to understand their roots.