"Over the last two centuries, Spain has played an important role in Western Europe. Spanish soldiers and guerrillas helped inflict the first major defeat on Napoleon, which became a symbol of the struggle against fascism during Spain's bloody civil war (1936-1939). Recently, the country underwent a peaceful transition from military dictatorship to parliamentary democracy and has become a partner within both NATO and the European Union. This second edition of Historical Dictionary of Spain details these events and examines the country's painful adjustment to modernity. It provides a comprehensive guide to the economic, social, and political history of Spain beginning with Napoleon's invasion in 1808." --Book Jacket