Spain under Ferdinand and Isabella marked a pivotal moment in European history. The united their kingdoms, creating a powerful that would shape the continent for centuries to come.
Their reign saw the completion of the , the establishment of the , and the beginning of Spain's overseas empire. These events set the stage for Spain's rise as a dominant European power and its future role in the Age of Exploration.
The Catholic Monarchs
Unification and Consolidation of Power
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and married in 1469, uniting their kingdoms and establishing a strong central government
The Catholic Monarchs worked to consolidate their power by reducing the influence of the nobility and the Cortes (parliament)
They revoked fueros (regional privileges) and appointed officials loyal to the crown to key positions in the government and military
The monarchs also supported the Hermandad (brotherhood), a military force that maintained order and suppressed crime throughout the kingdom
Religious Policies and the Spanish Inquisition
Ferdinand and Isabella were devout Catholics and sought to create religious unity in their kingdoms
They completed the Reconquista in 1492, conquering the last Muslim stronghold of Granada and ending nearly eight centuries of Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula
The Spanish Inquisition was established in 1478 to root out heresy and enforce religious orthodoxy
The Inquisition targeted (Jewish converts to Christianity) and (Muslim converts to Christianity), often subjecting them to torture and execution
The Inquisition also censored books and ideas deemed contrary to Catholic teachings
In 1492, the Catholic Monarchs issued the , expelling all Jews who refused to convert to Christianity from their kingdoms (Sephardic Jews)
Muslims were initially allowed to remain in the kingdom, but they faced increasing persecution and were eventually expelled in 1502 (Moriscos)
Exploration and Expansion
Christopher Columbus and the Discovery of the New World
The Catholic Monarchs sponsored 's voyages to find a westward route to Asia
Columbus landed in the Caribbean in 1492, mistakenly believing he had reached the East Indies
The discovery of the opened up new opportunities for Spanish exploration, colonization, and trade
Spain established a vast colonial empire in the Americas, including territories in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America (New Spain, Peru)
The Spanish Empire became a major source of wealth for the crown, primarily through the extraction of precious metals (gold, silver) and the establishment of the , which exploited indigenous labor
The Habsburg Dynasty
The Rise of the Habsburgs in Spain
The came to power in Spain through the marriage of (daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella) to of the Habsburg family
, the son of Joanna and Philip, inherited a vast empire that included Spain, the Netherlands, Austria, and the Holy Roman Empire
Under Charles V, Spain became the dominant power in Europe and the defender of Catholicism against the Protestant Reformation
Philip II and the Golden Age of Spain
, the son of Charles V, inherited the Spanish throne in 1556 and continued to expand Spain's power and influence
Philip II's reign marked the Golden Age of Spain, characterized by cultural and artistic achievements (, )
Philip II was a staunch defender of Catholicism and fought against the spread of Protestantism in Europe
He supported the Catholic League in the French Wars of Religion and sent the against England in 1588
The defeat of the Spanish Armada marked a turning point in Spain's naval supremacy and the beginning of its decline as a major European power
Philip II also faced challenges in his vast empire, including the in the Netherlands and the in Spain