The document summarizes the rise and fall of the Spanish Empire between the 15th-18th centuries. It describes how the reconquest of Spain from the Moors was completed in 1492 under Isabella I and Ferdinand II, who expelled the Jews and Muslims. The Spanish Golden Age occurred in the 16th-17th centuries due to silver from Mexico, though inflation set in later. The Spanish Habsburg dynasty bankrupted Spain through wars. The Spanish Empire declined due to plague, rebellions, and the War of Spanish Succession that brought the Bourbon dynasty to the throne in the early 18th century.

1. Tysen Quaintance
11-4-11
History 140
Dr. Arguello

2.  The Muslim control of the Iberian
Peninsula comes to an end during the 15th
century with the reconquesta, as the
Christians slowly reclaimed Spain.
 In 1469 the Kingdoms of Castile and
Aragon were united by the marriage of
Queen Isabella I and Ferdinand II.
 In 1492 the Catholic Monarchs (Isabella I
and Ferdinand II) ordered all Jews and
later Muslims either to convert or be
expelled from Spain.
 Even after the Muslims were expelled
their cultural and technological impacts
on the region remained.
 Queen Isabella solidified the feature of
Spain with the strategic marriage
arrangement of her five children.

3.  With the extraction of Mexican
Silver fueling the economy, the
16th and 17th centuries were
known as the Spanish golden
age.
 During this time the empire was
ruled by Charles V and the
Habsbugs. Charles V Inherited
the Castilian Empire in America
and the Aragonese Empire of the
Mediterranean making him the
most powerful man in Europe.
 The golden age was a period of
initial economic prosperity, and
a time where art and Spanish
literature flourished.

4.  Unfortunately the Spanish
became so rich with gold and
silver that it lead to terrible
inflation towards the end of the
16th century. It was said that,
"Everything is dear in Spain
except silver".[
 The Habsburg Dynasty also
bankrupted Spain many times
financing European War in
including the 30 year was that
consumed all of Europe.
 In 1580 the Spain and Portugal
united, unifying the Iberian
Peninsula and adding much
needed resources to the
declining empire.

5.  From 1598-1602 Spain lost 10% of its
population and it’s much needed
work force to the Plague.
 In 1640 as the 30 year war continued,
Portugal and Catalonia rebelled.
Spain was successful in expelling the
French and controlling the
Catalonia rebellion but Portugal was
never regained.
 The last ruler of the Habsbug
dynasty was Charles II who is said to
have been mentally handicapped
and impotent. During his rein Spain
went on virtually leaderless. He had
no airs, following his rule ensued the
War of Spanish Succession resulting
in the beginning of the bourbon
dynasty.

6.  Under the Treaties of Utrecht
it was decided that Bourbon
King Philip V would retain
the Spanish overseas empire
but would lose: the
Netherlands, Naples, Milan,
Sardinia, Sicily, Gibraltar, and
Minorca.
 It was also decided as a
balance of power, though
Philip V was French, the
thrones of the two countries
would not be combined.
 The British were also granted
exclusive rights to the slave
trade in Spanish America.

7.  Philip V organizationally
reformed Spanish
government.
 Philip V brought along
tighter, more efficient
control over the colonies of
the Spanish Empire.
 A shipping registry was
established in 1735 and
Philip V turned contraband
and illicit trade into
registered shipping.