Spain Builds an Empire
Happenings in Spain
• 1492: Final Moor rulers (Muslims) driven out
Extent of Muslim Empire in Spain
1492Columbus
Treaty of Tordesillas• Split earth in two hemispheres between
Portugal and Spain• Spain got New World, north and south, except
Brazil
Early Colonization
• Hispaniola (where Columbus landed), Caribbean, and central America colonized by 1515
Conquistadors
• Cortes-conquered Aztecs ~1520-Mexico
• Pizarro-conquered Incas ~1530-Peru
• By 1550, much of South America conquered
North America
• Late 1500s and early 1600s: Expanded into Florida and W of Missipppi
Precious Metals!
• Immense silver and gold stores in Americas radically increased Spain’s global standing, transformed Europe’s place in world
Twilight of Spain
• By 19th C, Britain and other N. Euro countries were more powerful
• Spain had internal and external problems, began to lose or sell colonies
And…
• New Imperialism would soon replace the old empires like Spain’s!
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