Turdetani

The Turdetani were an ancient Iberian people who inhabited the Guadalquivir River valley in the region of Baetica in southern Hispania. They are believed to have been the wealthiest and most advanced of the indigenous peoples of the Iberian Peninsula. Their territory encompassed the fertile plains of Andalusia, a region rich in mineral resources and agricultural potential.

The Turdetani culture was significantly influenced by contact with Phoenician and Greek traders who established settlements along the southern coast of Hispania from the 8th century BCE onwards. This interaction led to the adoption of new technologies, agricultural practices, and artistic styles. The Turdetani developed a sophisticated urban culture, with notable settlements like Tartessos, which is often identified with their civilization, although its exact location remains a subject of debate among archaeologists.

Their economy was based on agriculture, particularly the cultivation of wheat, olives, and grapes, and the extraction and processing of metals such as silver, copper, and tin. They engaged in extensive trade networks, exporting their surplus goods and importing luxury items from the Eastern Mediterranean. The Turdetani are also known for their unique script, the Turdetan script, which was adapted from the Phoenician alphabet.

The Turdetani eventually fell under Roman rule after the Punic Wars. Their integration into the Roman province of Hispania Baetica was a gradual process, and they largely maintained their cultural identity for a period before fully Romanizing. Their legacy is preserved in archaeological findings and mentions in ancient Greek and Roman texts.