The Rise and Fall of the Spanish Empire

Introduction to Spanish Territory

• Modern-day Spain covers 195,365 square miles.
• Located on the Iberian Peninsula, bordered by Portugal, France, and Andorra.
• Controls Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla.
• 19th-century Spain controlled over 5 million square miles, including parts of the Americas and Asia.

Spain's Rise to Power

• Late 15th century saw the unification of the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon through the marriage of Isabella I and Ferdinand II in 1469.
• Completion of the Reconquista in 1491, ousting the Emirate of Granada.
• Inspired by Portugal's success, Spain sought to establish overseas trade routes.

Christopher Columbus and the New World

• Columbus proposed westward sail to Asia, rejected by Portugal, accepted by Spain.
• 1492 voyage led to the discovery of the Americas, mistakenly believed to be Asia.
• Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) divided new lands between Spain and Portugal.

Spanish Conquests in the Americas

• Establishment of Santo Domingo in Hispaniola by Bartholomew Columbus in 1496.
• Conquests led by Hernan Cortes in Mexico and Francisco Pizarro in Peru.
• The collapse of the Aztec and Inca Empires due to Spanish military and diseases.

Expansion and Settlements

• Spanish influence reached the Philippines in Asia, establishing Manila in 1571.
• Exploitation of gold and silver mines in the Americas funded the empire.
• Emergence of a mestizo population, integrating native and Spanish cultures.

Decline of the Spanish Empire

• By the 17th century, the influx of wealth slowed and Spain faced economic challenges.
• Rise of other European powers (French, Dutch, English) threatened Spanish holdings.
• 18th-century exploration of California and Texas by missionaries like Junipero Serra.

Wars of Independence

• Early 19th-century revolutions led by figures like Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín.
• Independence movements spread across Central and South America, forming new states.

End of the Spanish Empire

• Late 19th-century saw the loss of remaining territories due to wars and U.S. intervention.
• Spanish-American War (1898) resulted in Spain losing Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.

Conclusion

• The Spanish Empire, a once vast and influential global power, saw its decline over several centuries due to economic, political, and colonial challenges, ending after 400 years.