A potted Mallorcan history

Human occupation goes back to around 3000 B.C. Experts have determined the first islanders lived there somewhere between 1300 and 1000BC with remains of fortifications and burial chambers from this period found on the island.

There´s a well preserved Bronze Age settlement at Ses Paisses at Artia in north east Mallorca

The Carthagenians, aided later by the Greeks and Pheonicians, ruled the island until 123 B.C

The Romans, however, were the first to really create the basis of modern civilisation when the conquered the island in 123BC and made it a Roman colony.

They landed on the coast at the spot where Alcudia stands today. Naming it Pollentia - meaning "power" - it was for centuries the capital of Balearis major, the name the Romans gave the island and was one of two major centres they built. The other was Palma in the south, today´s capital, which was settled at about the same time.

The Romans remained on Mallorca for five and a half centuries building the first towns, building the first roads and introducing Christianity too.

They were replaced by the Vandals, Goths and finally the Moors who ruled the island for 300 years.

It wasn´t until the 15th century that Mallorca became part of Spain.