The Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula is the southwestern most point of Europe with the Pyrenees mountain range attaching it to the rest of Europe. The majority of it is under the control of the Umayyad Caliphate who are also known as the Moors. Only the northernmost part of it is free from them, but still suffering regular attacks by them.
Geography
The Iberian Peninsula is known for it's variable geography. Rivers, coastal regions, forests, mountains are quite common.Scrubland is found in many areas around the southern parts of the peninsula.
To the nortwest there is the Pyrenees mountain range separating it from Frankish territory. Cooler and prone to snow and ice at it's highest peaks during the winter months, it is home to fiercely independant tribes such as the Catalans and Bsaques.
The centre of the peninsula is known as the Iberian Massif.
Most of the moutnains (known as the Beatic System) run down the right of the peninsula, taking in Gibraltir, along with the Galaician Massif to the northwest.
The rest is a mix of primarily plains and forests, along with elements of scrubland in southern areas. These are all populated to some degree and a number of major rivers run through them.
Ecosystem
The peninsula has sufficient plant-life to sustain many different creatures. Water being available allows for fish to be abundant, and with both the Atlantic Sea being to the west & the Mediterranean Sea to the east more fish species can be found.
Prey species usually rance from the likes of mice, rats and rabbits through to goats, sheep, autarchs and horses. Predators range from the usual of foxes, eagles, hawks, cave bears, wolves, snakes and the odd small reptile. Insects like moths, butterflies and flies in general are found throughout.
Few if any Fir trees are found here due to the hotter temperatures.
Ecosystem Cycles
Having the full gamut of weather patterns, the peninsula is known to be hotter than most of Europe. The winters are shorter but no less dangerous due to the weather patterns coming of the Atlantic. Part of the reason storms hit the peninsula is the neeting of hot air coming up north from North Africa hitting weather coming of the seas.
Localized Phenomena
Religious persecution is common here. Most of the peninsula is under the control of the Moors or Umayyads. A small part of the very north is under local tribes such as the Basques who were under the control of one time of the Romans who eventually brought Roman Catholism here. Many natives are als oChristian and tensions sometimes boil over into conflict.
Climate
Warmer than many other parts of Europe, the country can swing between powerful storms generated by the Atlantic and Mediterrainean Seas, and North Africa. Wet contidions are fcommon during late Autumn and early spring and dboth dry & high temperatures are found during the summer. It is rare at lower regions for snow to fall, and usually founbd at higher levels.
Natural Resources
Wood, metals and animals are common resuorces especially steel and fish are common resources. Some of the best steel is produced here and regularly finds it way into both Europe, North Africa and the Near East.
History
Humanity has long settled here and has passed through north and south. Ancient human sites are found throughout the region, and the odd ancient dragon & giant sites are found in out of the way places.
Parts of the coast line was took over by peoples such as the Phoenicians. They used it as trade ports going around the Mediterranean and up into ports in northern Europe.
This was followed by the Grreks who took over some of the ports for their own use and setting up of their own.
Over time the Romans expanded and took over all these moving into the peninsula proper, taking full control.
The locals have always been a breed apart from these empires, and the Celts had made it into the regions too especially near the mountains and the north.
Soon after the fall of Rome, the Vandals, Alans, Suebi, and the Visigoths arrived. The latter stayed taking over and the others moved on.
All this came to a head when the Umayyads arrived. They proceeded t oadd this to their empire with it falling in the year 750 AD. Now the same is referred to as Al-Andalus. the Emirate of Cordoba contrils it and has done so from 756 AD. The Emirates refer to Cordoba as Qurtubah, and the whole state was founded by Abd al-Raqman I, an Umayyad prince who fled at the time of the Abassid Revolution. Most of the rulers here use Emir or Sultan as titles.
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