Believe it or not, there's more to Spain than the stereotypical tapas, flamenco and cheap holidays. The country is also responsible for a world of inventions, some that you might not have initially expected. Here's a list of some of the most surprising contributions the country has made to society.
You can also thank the Spanish for inventing cigarettes, thought to be created by the country's street beggars who could easily find pieces of waste paper to wrap their tobacco in.
Chess is something else we can thank the Spaniards for. While its exact origins are up for dispute and the ancient game had been in existence for centuries, Valencia is credited with coming up with the modern rules of the game we play today way back in the 15th century.
Sherry also happens to be Spanish. Loved by UK grannies and problem drinkers alike, the idea of sherry originating from anywhere but Blighty is a bit hard to swallow. In actual fact, sherry comes from the Spanish town of Jerez, close to Cadiz. The English pronunciation actually derives from the old Arabic word for the town, Sherish. A far cry from the beverage we drink in the UK, traditional Spanish sherry is absolutely delicious and is the perfect accompaniment to tapas.
Although there's debate as to who actually created Coca Cola (some say it was an Atlanta-based chemist), Spain claim to have founded the fizzy drink. However, Valencian Juan Mica claims that his great-great uncle invented the drink, then called Nuez de Kola Coca. He supposedly took the drink to the United States, won a prize for his brew in Philadelphia and then sold the recipe. The claim is still unresolved. That said, there are lots of photographs from the time of a Spanish drink going by the old name. Although which came first, Coca Cola or Nuez de Kola Coca, we are likely to never find out for definite.
You can also thank the Spanish for inventing cigarettes, thought to be created by the country's street beggars who could easily find pieces of waste paper to wrap their tobacco in.
Chess is something else we can thank the Spaniards for. While its exact origins are up for dispute and the ancient game had been in existence for centuries, Valencia is credited with coming up with the modern rules of the game we play today way back in the 15th century.
Sherry also happens to be Spanish. Loved by UK grannies and problem drinkers alike, the idea of sherry originating from anywhere but Blighty is a bit hard to swallow. In actual fact, sherry comes from the Spanish town of Jerez, close to Cadiz. The English pronunciation actually derives from the old Arabic word for the town, Sherish. A far cry from the beverage we drink in the UK, traditional Spanish sherry is absolutely delicious and is the perfect accompaniment to tapas.
Although there's debate as to who actually created Coca Cola (some say it was an Atlanta-based chemist), Spain claim to have founded the fizzy drink. However, Valencian Juan Mica claims that his great-great uncle invented the drink, then called Nuez de Kola Coca. He supposedly took the drink to the United States, won a prize for his brew in Philadelphia and then sold the recipe. The claim is still unresolved. That said, there are lots of photographs from the time of a Spanish drink going by the old name. Although which came first, Coca Cola or Nuez de Kola Coca, we are likely to never find out for definite.
About the Author:
Catherine McCulloch is a writer who loves to travel to Spain in particular. Click here to see some of our offers and fantastic deals from MyTravel.
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