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