Malaga was founded in the 8th century by the Phoenicians although there were archaeological indications that prehistoric man got there first. It was later under the control of the Carthaginians, but it was the Romans who converted the region into a city and gave it the status of a confederate city of Rome.

The Arabs captured it in 711 and later this Arab city was conquered by the Catholic Monarchs and reformed to the new Christian dominance. Throughout history the region of Malaga experienced several devastating natural disasters. Famines, epidemic diseases, foods, earthquakes and poor harvests contributed to the tragic 16th and 17th centuries. The 18th century saw a renewal in commercial activity and economic growth mainly due to the discovery of America. Iron, Steel and textile factories were setup making Malaga an important industrial center. Later in the 19th century Spain lost most of its colonies including Cuba which again slowed the commercial sector and the economy of Malaga began to decline.