Gibraltar (British overseas territory)
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern coast of Spain, known for its strategic position at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. It has been a point of contention between Spain and Britain since it was ceded to the British in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, with the native Gibraltarians consistently voting to remain a British dependency. The population, which was estimated at nearly 30,000 in 2016, has a diverse heritage, predominantly of Gibraltarian ancestry, alongside British and Spanish roots. The territory features notable geological formations, including the iconic Rock of Gibraltar and a network of military tunnels.
Historically, Gibraltar has been inhabited since prehistoric times, with evidence of Neanderthal presence and significant archaeological findings, including Neanderthal rock art. Over the centuries, it has seen various rulers, including the Phoenicians, Romans, Moors, and Castilians, before becoming British. Gibraltar's economy is primarily service-oriented, heavily reliant on tourism and trade, with extremely low unemployment rates. The territory has navigated complex relationships with both the UK and the EU, particularly in light of the 2016 Brexit vote, where Gibraltarians overwhelmingly favored remaining in the EU, raising concerns about their future economic ties and sovereignty.
Gibraltar (British overseas territory)
Gibraltar is an overseas territory of Great Britain that is located on the south coast of Spain. Although it was ceded by Spain to Great Britain in the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, ownership of the territory has remained an ongoing point of contention between the two nations. The native Gibraltarians have consistently voted in referendums to remain a British dependency, and the territory was granted greater autonomy in 1969.
Gibraltar consists of a piece of land situated on a small peninsula that extends into the Bay of Gibraltar. It shares a short .75-mile (1.2-kilometer) border with the Spanish town of La Línea de la Concepción. The 2016 population of Gibraltar was estimated at almost thirty thousand people, with approximately 79 percent of the population being of native Gibraltarian ancestry. Another 13 percent were of British origin, while 2.1 percent had a Spanish background.
Brief History
It is believed that Gibraltar may have been home to Europe's last surviving population of Neanderthals. In 1848, a British officer found only the second known Neanderthal skull at Forbes' Quarry Cave. Since that time, eight different Neanderthal sites have been discovered within the territory's small confines. In 2014, archaeologists found the first known example of Neanderthal rock art in Gorham's Cave. It has been dated as thirty-nine thousand years old. This patchwork of lines is believed to offer possible evidence of the Neanderthals' cognitive abilities.
Radiocarbon dating, a process used to date archaeological remains, has indicated that charcoal found at some of these sites showed that Neanderthals lived in the area as recently as twenty-four thousand to twenty-eight thousand years ago. Their late survival in this region may have been due to the relatively warmer climate of Gibraltar compared to the rest of Europe. Scientists have discovered evidence of the occupation of Neanderthals in Gibraltar spanning a total period of more than one hundred thousand years. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) lists Gibraltar's cave complex as a World Heritage Site.
As Gibraltar is situated near the entrance of the Mediterranean Sea, it has served as a strategic point in the history of southern Europe. The Phoenicians settled the peninsula in approximately 950 BCE. It was later occupied by the Romans who believed that the Rock of Gibraltar was one of the two mythic Pillars of Hercules found on the African and European sides of the Mediterranean Sea. According to legend, these pillars were created when Hercules smashed his way through a mountain to reach the Mediterranean.
Gibraltar was later settled by Moors in 711 CE who named it Jebel Tariq, meaning the "mountain of Tariq." It was named in honor of Tariq ibn Ziyad, a Moorish commander who led the conquest of Spain in the eighth century. The name Gibraltar is the Spanish pronunciation of this Moorish name.
It was captured by the Crown of Castile, a medieval state that served as a precursor to Spain, in 1309. It switched hands several times over the next century before being returned to Castilian control in 1462 and then Spanish authority until 1704 when it was seized by the British during the War of the Spanish Succession. As part of the terms to end this war, Spain agreed to cede the territory to Great Britain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht. Spain subsequently sought to reclaim the territory through several sieges, although it has withstood these attacks to remain a British property since 1704.
It served a prominent role during World War II as the British attempted to retain control of the entrance to the Mediterranean. In 1969, Spain's military ruler, Francisco Franco renewed claims that Gibraltar was a historic territory of Spain and established a blockade that closed Gibraltar's only land border. This border was finally opened again to international traffic in 1985.
An artificial reef created by Gibraltar in 2013 renewed tensions between Spain and Britain. Spain has pushed to have the issue settled in international court. Britain has sought to retain its sovereignty not only due to its long-term cultural and political ties with the territory, but also because of its strategic communications and intelligence value. Its tactical location enables the British to monitor affairs in the Middle East and northern Africa more easily.
Overview
The dominant geologic feature of Gibraltar is the Rock of Gibraltar, which rises 1,398 feet (426 meters) high. This promontory is part of a nature reserve that is home to three hundred Barbary macaques—the only wild monkeys found in Europe. Gibraltar sits on a limestone base stretching 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) long and 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) wide at its broadest point. Among Gibraltar's most famous features is a 34-mile (55-kilometer) network of tunnels that was dug by the British Army under the territory.
As an overseas territory of Great Britain, Gibraltar is dependent upon the British military for its defense. Britain is responsible for setting Gibraltar's laws and foreign policy. Its status as an overseas territory means that it can set its own tax regulations. Gibraltarians are British citizens.
Gibraltar's largest economic sector is a service industry that caters to tourists. Other major industries include offshore banking, e-commerce, gambling, and a large shipping sector. Gibraltar had only a 1 percent unemployment rate in 2016—one of the lowest in Europe. As a result, many Spaniards from nearby communities commute to Gibraltar on a daily basis for work. The tax rates in the territory are low, which is intended to attract foreign investment. As a tiny urban center, Gibraltar has no agricultural industry and it is completely reliant upon imports to supply food.
In 2016, Great Britain voted to leave the European Union (EU) in a nationwide vote. Although this vote had important economic and political repercussions in the United Kingdom, Gibraltar may see even greater effects from a possible British exit. While 52 percent of British voters chose to leave the EU, 96 percent of Gibraltarians voted to remain. Gibraltar has a greater investment in staying in the EU. The territory sees enormous economic benefit from the millions of tourists who cross into Gibraltar from its shared border with EU member Spain. In addition, Gibraltar relies on goods, services, and laborers that cross this boundary every day. Any changes to its relationship with the EU could have major repercussions. However, it also values its political relationship with Britain and is unlikely to oppose its efforts to leave the EU. In the wake of Britain's vote to exit the EU, Spain has suggested it may seek to heighten claims of joint sovereignty over the territory.
Bibliography
Bradford, Ernie. Gibraltar: The History of a Fortress. Open Road Media, 2014.
Dwyer, Colin. "The Dust-Up over Gibraltar: What's the Big Deal about the Little Peninsula?" NPR, 3 Apr. 2017, www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/04/03/522484447/the-dust-up-over-gibraltar-whats-the-big-deal-about-the-little-peninsula. Accessed 5 June 2017.
"Gibraltar." The World Factbook, US Central Intelligence Agency, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gi.html. Accessed 5 June 2017.
"Gibraltar Profile—Overview." BBC, 17 Feb. 2014, www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18219307. Accessed 5 June 2017.
"Gibraltar Still Strategic Asset for Britain." Fox News, 1 Aug. 2013, www.foxnews.com/world/2013/08/17/gibraltar-still-strategic-asset-for-britain.html. Accessed 5 June 2017.
"Gorham's Cave Complex." United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, whc.unesco.org/en/list/1500. Accessed 5 June 2017.
Johnson, Ben. "History of Gibraltar." Historic UK, www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/History-of-Gibraltar/. Accessed 5 June 2017.
Revesz, Rachael. "Gibraltar: How Will Brexit Affect It?" Independent, 3 Apr. 2017, www.independent.co.uk/news/gibraltar-brexit-how-affect-uk-spain-what-connection-leave-eu-europe-headland-rock-a7663981.html. Accessed 5 June 2017.
Rincon, Paul. "Neanderthal 'Artwork' Found in Gibraltar Cave." BBC, 1 Sept. 2014, www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-28967746. Accessed 5 June 2017.
Wayman, Erin. "The Rock of Gibraltar: Neanderthals' Last Refuge." Smithsonian, 19 Sept. 2012, www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-rock-of-gibraltar-neanderthals-last-refuge-42545293/. Accessed 5 June 2017.