Spanish Empire Research Paper

Although there are many reasons why the Spanish-American war took place, the most important was Spain's resentment of Cuba's desire to also become an independent nation. Since Cuba was one of Spain's last territories, they were unwilling to allow independence. As a result, conflict between the two parties erupted. Since Cuba was smaller and less equipped to fight than Spain, their economy took a tumble. Due to the fact that the United States had a great deal of money invested in Cuba's sugar resources, many Americans felt the need to wage war. Additionally, there were separate events that caused anger to American Citizens. One such event was the destruction of a U.S. ship used to protect the American citizens in Cuba. Although the ship's

The Spanish were the first to take advantage of the New World’s riches by forging an intense national unity that enables it to dominate Europe as well as the New World wall France and England were preoccupied with political disputes and religious conflict. The treasures seized from Mexico and Peru added to Spain’s military and economic power. The single-minded focus on gold and silver also tempted the Spanish government to live beyond its means. Between 1557 and 1662, the kings of Spain were forced to declare bankruptcy 10 times.

Medieval Spain started with the arrival of the Visigoths in the late 5th century to the end of the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella in the 16th century. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval countries and kingdoms including Galicia, Leon, Castile, Aragon, Navarre, Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia, and Granada. These countries all contributed to what has been known as the Spanish language as well as the country itself.

Throughout history, as we study Spain we can clearly recognize high and low points in their success. In the fifteen hundreds Spain had no influence on European affairs, Spain essentially vanished out of Europe. However, within one complete century Spain had become not only a leading power but they also had a great sense of effectiveness in Europe. Spain experienced a Golden age with many social, economic, political aspects. On the other hand, within

During the 15th century, many considered Spain insignificant. However, within a century it became a world-dominant power in Europe. Although Spain only took a brief time to rise, it was also short-lived. The rise of Spain was due to its flourishing culture, stable political system and successful voyages to the New World. On the other hand, its decline was due to religious control, resistance from other countries and inflation.

In Imperial Spain, J.H. Elliot examines the history of early modern Spain from the reign of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand, to the reformation of the Spanish government by the first member of the Bourbon dynasty. According to the author, at the start of the 15th century, Spain was internally weak, hopelessly divided and isolated from the continent by the Pyrenees. Yet, by 1492, Spanish society experienced a tremendous transformation which allowed Isabella and Ferdinand to unify the country, secure the largest transoceanic empire the world has ever known, and for a

Spain’s perceived “Golden Age” is a broad classification unconfined to a specific era. The Golden Age has long been affiliated with the growth of a uniquely Spanish identity that arose with the flourishing of arts, architecture and literature expanding notably in the years of Phillip II, and flourishing in the 17th century – the same century traditionalist historians identify as the decline of Spain. To consider the golden age of Spain on a purely art and literature basis however misses the point, the Golden Age in all contexts appeared from the development of the Spanish Empire. On the European stage Spain appeared at the height of its “Golden Age” during the reign of Phillip II, Spain was the centre piece of the world’s greatest power

Four empires embarked in the journey of exploring and conquering the New World: the Spanish, French, Dutch, and English. Among these empires, the new world was first and most vastly conquered by the Spanish. In 1492, the italian explorer Christopher Columbus sailed to America for the first time under the orders of the Spanish Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella. In this and his following three journeys he discovered what he at first thought were the west indies. After this the Spanish Empire conquered the majority territory of America. The success of the Spanish New World Empire can be attributed to better support, and organization than any of the other New World Empires; making it the most efficient of all Empires.

The capital of the Aztec empire, Tenochtitlan, and what is known today as Mexico City was conquered in 1521 by the Spanish explorer named Hernando Cortez. Cortez was born Medellin, Spain in 1485. He was the only son of a noble family and his father was a captain in the Spanish army. He was fascinated with Christopher Columbus’ journeys in the new world. This was a far cry from his parents wish for him to be lawyer. Before reaching the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, Cortes along with Diego Velazquez, were powerful figures in the island of Cuba. Their partnership soon ended when Cortes went against Velasquez’s wishes to marry his sister and sailed to the mainland of Mexico against his orders. On 1519 Cortez reached the harbor of central Veracruz (“True Cross”). He arrived with 11 ships, 15 horses and a fleet of 500 men in search for gold. Cortes soon learned that the land was ruled by the great Aztec lord in the city of Tenochtitlán: King Monezuma II.

Cortez and his force arrived in Tenochtitlan on November 8th, 1519. Tenochtitlan was the capital of what we know today as Mexico. Tenochtitlan was one of the largest cities in the world at that time. Tenochtitlan was run by the Aztecs. Cortes then met Montezuma, the Aztecs’s emperor. Montezuma and the Aztecs thought Hernan Cortes was a god. They thought he was Quetzalcoatl. Cortez was there at the right time because the god was supposed to arrive the same year Cortes was there. Since they thought he was a god they would do anything for his command. Later on Montezuma suspected Cortez not to be the god. He gave him gold and jewels to try and get him to leave. It had the opposite affect and increased the Spaniards greed. Cortez then captured Montezuma as hostage to prevent the Aztecs attacking.

As a major power in Europe, Spain set out to discover and colonize the Americas. Spanish conquistadors were sent out to travel to the “new land” and claim it in the name of Spain’s King, Charles of Ghent. Conquistadors is the key word here, meaning conqueror. Two skilled and powerful men were to decide who would be leading the expedition, initially to Mexico. Velazquez, unfortunately, was “too fat for such an undertaking.” This great quest was lead by Narvaez, an older and well-known Spanish Conquistador. The ideals of this, and all, conquistador is to overtake any people in the Americas forcefully. Spaniards and Europe as a whole was the major power, so to them everyone else was beneath them. So Velazquez devised a plan to successfully overtake

Cortés came not to the New World to conquer by force, but by manipulation. Bernal Díaz del Castillo, in the "Conquest of New Spain," describes how Cortés and his soldiers manipulated the Aztec people and their king Montezuma from the time they traveled from Iztapalaopa to the time when Montezuma took Cortés to the top of the great Cue and showed him the whole of Mexico and its countryside, and the three causeways which led into Mexico. Castillo's purpose for recording the mission was to keep an account of the wealth of Montezuma and Mexico, the traditions, and the economic potential that could benefit Cortés' upcoming conquest. However, through these recordings, we are able to see and understand Cortés'

he Spanish and Ottoman empires were extremely powerful empires that lasted from 1450 to 1800. During this time, both empires built and further expanded their empires through the use of socio-economic and political processes. Although these empires existed in two separate parts of the world, they shared a similar resemblance in their structures. As time progressed, The Spanish and Ottoman empires developed drastic differences as well as similarities in their economic, political and social structures.

This video, The Spanish Empire, Silver, & Runaway Inflation: Crash Course World History, answers the driving question because it clearly showed the actions of competing European nations. An example of this is when the video showed that Spain went to a very expensive war which caused them to be in debt. Another action that the Spanish made was to develop both the hierachy and the mit’a system from the Incas. When the economy changed, their economy was dropped significantly because China implemented a new rule that tax can only be paid in silver, and because everyone sold silk to get silver, silk was everywhere, causing it to be nearly free. Because of the inflation in silk, the Spanish economy suffered the most out of the

Politically, the collapse of feudalism brought a rise in power of Nation States with New Monarchies of Spain, England, and France, bringing crucial change to European lives. The creation of the middle class challenged the power of the nobility completely shifted the focus of As the upbringing of the Renaissance challenged medieval ideas such as feudalism, Spain began to unite under the rule of Ferdinand and Isabella. Sponsoring voyages to the New World, Spain became the strongest European nation of the time due to the influx of new goods and ideas through trade. Religion in Spain was influenced by the ruler, ultimately giving the monarchy more power over it’s people. Similarly, England’s religion was altered through its new monarchy. Henry