A New Kingdom

Kingdom of Spain crated in 1492 with the unification of the Kingdom of Castile & The Kingdom of Aragon

Over the next 3 centuries was the most important colonial power.

Most Powerful state in Europe during the 16th

century and greater part of the 17th century.

Expansion

1492, Columbus

“inadvertently” discovered

the Americas, inaugurating

Spanish colonization of

this continent.

Treaty of Tordesillas

signed in 1494, which

divided the globe into 2

hemispheres between

Spanish and Portuguese

Claims.

“The Golden Age of Spain”

Charles I (Charles V of The Holy Roman Empire)

Inherited Castilan Empire in the Americas, AragoneseEmpire, Croen of Holy Roman Empire, Low Countries and Austria.

Became the most Powerful man in Europe.

The opening of silver mines in Mexico and Bolivia in 1546 became legendary.

Hapsburg’s Political Goals

Access to the resources of the Americas (gold, silver, sugar) and products of Asia. (Porcelain, spices, silk)

Undermining the Power of France.

Defending Catholicism.

Defending Europe against Islam. (Ottoman Empire)

To spread religion to unconverted souls of the new world.

Phillip II

Phillip II inherited

crown. (1556-1598)

Under Phillip II many

conflicts occurred. (The

French 1559, The

Eighty Years’ War with

the Netherlands)

The wars bankrupted

Spain.

Explorers and Conquistadors

Spanish colonization of the Americas led by warrior- explorers called conquistadors.

Used technology of armor, equestrian presence, and exploitation of rivalries between indigenous peoples, tribes and nations to defeat the more powerful enemies. (Aztec and Inca)

Famous Conquistadors

Hernan Cortes

Achieved Spanish

Conquest of The Aztec

Empire. (1519-1521)

Francisco Pizarro

Spanish conquest of the

Inca Empire.

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Spain

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Empire

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_colonization_of_

the_Americas