Spanish Colonization
Spain in the 1400’s
In the 15th century Iberia was made up of several small kingdoms, but the most important Christian kingdoms were:
Kingdom of Castile, Kingdom of Aragon, and the Kingdom of Portugal
The death of King Henry IV of Castile in 1474 created a power struggle, the War of the Castilian Succession (1475–79)
Fighting for the throne were:
Joanna la Beltraneja, the heir appointed by Henry, but fallen out of favor
Queen Isabella I of Castile, Henry's half-sister
Isabella was supported by the Castilian nobility and the Kingdom of Aragon - her husband Ferdinand
Isabella took the throne and ruled jointly with her husband, King Ferdinand II
Their marriage began the creation of the Kingdom of Spain
Isabella held more authority over the newly unified Spain than her husband, because she was the heir
Together, Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon.
They were known as the "Catholic Monarchs" (los Reyes Católicos), a title given to them by Pope Alexander VI
Reconquista of Spain
The story of social relationships on the Iberian Peninsula from about 711 to 1491
The history of the Christian Iberian kingdoms opposing and conquering the Muslim kingdoms of IberiaDirectly connected with the Crusades
Reconquista of Spain
Ferdinand and Isabella helped finance and control the final stages
Conquest of Granada, the Canary Islands, and expelled the Jews from Spain
In 1492 they ordered the remaining Jews to convert or face expulsion from Spain
Spanish InquisitionThe Tribunal of the Holy Office of the Inquisition was established in 1478
Was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy and to replace the Medieval Inquisition, which was under Papal control
The Inquisition was intended to identify heretics among those who converted from Judaism and Islam to Catholicism
The Inquisition had jurisdiction only over Christians
They (the priests and officials) had no power to investigate, prosecute, or convict Jews, Muslims, or any open member of other religion
Christopher Columbus Sail west into the Atlantic as a western route to India
He proposed the alternative travel route to Asia to Isabella and Ferdinand several times
Upon success he wanted to be appointed governor of any and all lands he discovered, and be given one-tenth of all revenue from those lands
He became the first known European to reach the New World since Leif Ericson
The first expedition and those that followed led to an influx of wealth into Spain
Result for Spain and the World
Gave the Kingdom of Castile the ability to be the dominant power of Europe for the next two centuries
Led to the widespread knowledge that a new continent existed west of Europe and east of Asia
European kingdoms sent expeditions and established colonies throughout the New World
Converted the natives to Christianity
Built large trade networks across the Atlantic
Introduced new plants, animals, and food crops to both continents
Hernan Cortes
A Spanish Conquistador
H led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire
Brought large portions of what is now mainland Mexico under the rule of the King of Castile in the early 16th century
Hernan Cortes
1519 he took 11 ships, 500 men (including some slaves), 13 horses, and a small number of cannons, Cortés landed on the Yucatan Peninsula
He defeated natives in battle, won their respect, and alliance against the Aztec, who had them under tribute and terrorized them
Montezuma
He was the leader of the Aztec civilization
Cortes took him captive after playing political games with him and then had him killed
This represented the fall of the Aztec