Guide Majorca (Mallorca)

The history of Majorca / Mallorca is extremely interesting and can be seen in many museums, monuments and buildings across the island such as the magnificent Gothic Catedral de Palma de Mallorca(cathederal), the Castillo Bellver (castle) or La Lonja (original fish market) situated in the bay of Palma.

Evidence of other people to settle on Mallorca has been found and includes findings of tools made from animal horns and pottery that are from around 1000 BC. Other evidence to prove this era is in the towers shaped like cones (Talayots). They are a periodical feature for around this time. They are sited in the south of the island at capocorp vell. These were named by The Carthaginians.

The Next people thought to arrive were Greek and Phoenician traders. This is where it is thought that the name Balearic came from ballein, which is the Greek word for sling throwing! The Carthaginians worked in conjunction with the sling throwers to fend off the Romans over time, until the Romans eventually took control in around 123 BC.

In the tenth century the island began 300 years of Moorish rule after the Emirate of Cordoba assumed power. Mallorca had a very conflictive 300 years in these times, as holy battles for power would commence between Muslim's and Christians. Eventually, however, due to the ideal location of the island between Islamic Spain and Africa, trade flourished, as did agriculture.

In 1229 King Jaume I of Aragon and Catalunya invaded the island of Mallorca. The Mallorcan Emirate stole his ships and this enraged him. Moorish buildings were destroyed and with this he set up an independent Kingdom of Mallorca. He built the Palma Cathedral. He was a very good governor. Well ahead of his time he would do all he could to assist traders in the region as well as give equal rights regardless of religious beliefs. On his death, his son Jaume II inherited Mallorca along with some of his other provinces. Pedro IV of Aragon landed in Mallorca in 1349. He was jealous of Jaume II and so claimed control of the island for himself.

Mallorca's traditional language up to the 18th century had been Catalan. This was then replaced with the Castilian variation of Spanish. However during the Napoleonic wars Mallorca still saw more than its fair share of Catalan speaking refugees and more and more the Mallorcan dialect was spoken, replacing Catalan. 19th century life on Mallorca was a difficult period for the islanders with famines and droughts throughout the century. Slowly the island saw agricultural advancements and eventually a rail network and increased communication with the Spanish mainland and at last there was a feeling of revival of the Catalan culture.

Mass tourism to the region and to Mallorca really started to kick off in the 1950's. More recently Mallorca sees around about 10 million tourists per year. Many well known people have been drawn in by the beauty of the island such as Michael Douglas, Boris Becker, Claudia Schiffer, Joan Manel Serrat and Paco de Lucía ( the worlds greatest flamenco guitarrist ). And naturally one must mention the fact that the Spanish Royal Family also have their official summer home here!