The area of Barcelona was inhabited by Iberian (Laietan) peoples, Carthaginians, Romans, Jews, Visigoths, Muslims and Christians Despite the remains of Iberian and Carthaginian settlements, the true birth of the city took place in Roman times. This settlement evolved until it became one of the main ports in the western Mediterranean Sea, reaching primacy over the rest of the Catalan counties in the Middle Ages and becoming the capital of the Crown of Aragon. After the union of Castile and Aragon, and despite having ceased to be the capital of an independent state, Barcelona has always enjoyed a position of great relevance in the political, social and economic development of the Spanish state. More recently, events such as the 1992 Olympic Games and the Universal Forum of Cultures have placed Barcelona as a world-renowned and celebrated city, an important tourist and cultural center, as well as a prestigious financial and congress center.