Carpetania facts for kids
Carpetania was an old region in what is now Spain. It was located between several mountain ranges and a river. This area included parts of modern-day Madrid and Castile-La Mancha.
Carpetania was known as a very fertile place. Its name might come from the Greek word karpos, which means "fruit." This is because many fruits were grown there. The land was home to the Carpetani, a tribe that lived there before the Romans arrived. Other tribes like the Oretani, Celtiberians, Vaccei, and Vettones lived nearby.
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What Was Ancient Carpetania?
Carpetania was a significant region in ancient times. It was a rich agricultural area, meaning it was great for farming. The people who lived there, the Carpetani, had their own culture and way of life.
Who Lived in Carpetania?
The main group of people living in Carpetania were the Carpetani tribe. They were one of the many groups living in the Iberian Peninsula before the Romans took control.
- The Oretani lived to the south of Carpetania.
- The Celtiberians were to the northeast.
- The Vaccei and Vettones lived to the northwest.
These tribes had their own customs and often interacted with each other.
How Did the Romans Affect Carpetania?
The Romans found Carpetania easy to conquer. Because of this, not much was written about its conquest. The region quickly became part of the Roman Empire. This meant that Roman culture and laws were introduced.
Even after the Roman conquest, the people of Carpetania kept some of their unique traditions. This continued even through the time of the Visigoths, another group who ruled Spain later.
Important Cities of Carpetania
Several towns in Carpetania became important cities under Roman rule. They quickly gained special legal rights, similar to being self-governing towns.
- Toletum: This is now the city of Toledo.
- Complutum: This is modern-day Alcalá de Henares.
- Consabura: This is the city of Consuegra.
- Segóbriga: Located near Saelices, in the River basin.
- Laminio: Another significant ancient town.
These cities were important centers for trade and daily life in the region.
Carpetania in Geography Today
Sometimes, the name Carpetania has also been used to describe the Central System. This is a large mountain range that divides Spain into northern and southern plateaus. However, this use of the name is not very common anymore. People usually refer to it as the Central System, similar to how they talk about the Cantabrian Mountains or the Iberian System.
See also
- Madrid
- Castile-La Mancha
- Ancient Rome
- Toledo
- Alcalá de Henares
- Consuegra
- Central System
