The Spanish Empire
Theme 3 Part 2By: Josh KessnerHistory 140, Professor Arguello
The
Histo
ry of Sp
ain
• The history of Spain involves many peoples and nations within the Iberian peninsula
• The Iberian peninsula was formerly known as Hispania, and still to this very day contain the nations of Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal, and Spain
• As of recently Spain has become a member of the European Union
• Modern humans entered the Iberian Peninsula about 32,000 years ago which led up to the Kingdom of Spain which was created in 1492.
Imp
eria
l Spa
in
• The Spanish Empire was one of the first modern global empires and also one of the largest empires in world history.
• In the 16th century Spain and Portugal were in the vanguard of European global exploration and colonial expansion.
• Trade routes were opened across the oceans and that allowed for much growth and productivity.
• Trade flourished across the Atlantic with the Americas and across the Pacific between East Asia and Mexico.
Spa
nish
King
do
ms u
nd
er th
e
Ha
bsb
urg
s
• Not only was the height of the powerful Spanish world empire achieved within the 16th and 17th century, it’s decline also fell.
• Both of these endured under the Habsburgs
• The Spanish Empire reached its maximum height in Europe under Charles I of Spain, as he was also Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire.
• Charles became king in 1516, and near his death made the division of his inheritance into two parts.
Diffic
ultie
s for Ph
illip II o
f Spa
in
• Phillip II of Spain became king on Charles V’s abdication in 1556.
• Spain largely escaped the religious conflicts and remained strictly Roman Catholic.
• Led Spain into the unsuccessful Spanish Armada which was an early battle in the Anglo-Spanish war.
• The great plague of 1596-1602 killed 600-700 thousand people which was about 10% of the population.
• Economically, the plague destroyed the labor force and added to the psychological distraught of an already problematic Spain
The
Spa
nish
Emp
ire
• After the War of the Castilian Succession, Spain had emerged with a personally unified monarchy
• The marriage of the Catholic Monarchs, the Queen of Castile and the King of Aragon allowed for this monarchy
• Rule was separate but internal and foreign policy was coordinated
• By 1492, the Spanish monarchs completed the Reconquista with the incorporation of Granada to the Kingdom of Castile
Spa
nish
Emp
ire in
the
16th C
en
tury
• In the 16th century, Spain settled the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean, and took over large areas on mainland North and South America
• They overran the Aztecs and Incas
• The Spanish expedition of world circumnavigation started by Ferdinand Magellan achieved what Columbus had longed for.
• There was now a westward route to Asia and the sought-after Spice Islands.
• In 1565 navigator Miguel Lopez de Legazpi arrived in Guam and the Philippine Islands establishing the Spanish East Indies.
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