The art of flamenco originated in southern Spain and was developed by the Romani people who came from northern India in the fifth century. Modern flamenco, on the other hand, began in the eighteenth century, and was influenced by Romani, Muslim and Jewish music, whose songs were characterized by expressions of sadness and improvisational techniques that were meant to display feelings of great difficulty.
These emotional performances developed as a result of ethnic oppression at the hands of the Spanish monarchy. When some ethnic groups were granted rights in the eighth century by King Carlos, flamenco music grew popular in Spain and eventually became widespread across the world.