Spain holds a special place in world history as one of only a few countries in which its monarchy unifies two kingdoms’ power under one central government.
This merger propelled Catholic Monarchs to complete the Reconquest, promote culture and pass legislation – as well as expand beyond their peninsula base by sending explorers and missionaries who spread Spanish throughout Africa, Oceania and America.
History of the Monarchy
Throughout its history, Spain’s monarchy has been the dominant form of government. From early Christian Hispania through to al-Andalus and modern Spain, its power has served as a unifying force.
Spanish historians tend to characterize the early years of Bourbon rule as one marked by stagnation and, later, random reforms. This chapter refutes this negative interpretation by showing how rational, developmentalist principles underpinned royal government in this period.
The Roman Empire
Roman rule left its mark on Spain. Immense buildings and roads bear testament to its impact.
Under Roman domination, Spain became home to Christianity which has since become its main religion. Also notable during this era was linguistic influence: Spanish adopted neo-Latin languages which remain widely spoken today. Additionally, Flavian emperors are noted for generalizing laws and systematizing taxation systems across their empire.
The Middle Ages
The Middle Ages was an age of explosive development and unprecedented change. Economic expansion, territorial growth, population increase and urbanization all occurred simultaneously as universities emerged along with other secular institutions that underwent significant change during this time period.
Reconquista was another defining period, when Christian kingdoms conquered Muslim territory and created Spanish from spoken Latin – often leading to confusion, backwardness and ignorance – yet also witnessed barbarity and cruelty.
The Renaissance
As Spain discovered America and exploited its vast riches, she quickly took on a global dimension. Isabel and Fernando combined the crowns of Castile and Aragon under their rule to further consolidate continental and overseas empires.
The 18th century saw dramatic transformation in Spanish society as it adopted Enlightenment ideals of education, science and public works. Novelist Cervantes achieved his finest artistic expression with Don Quixote while poets Garca Lorca and Luis de la Vega wrote poetry of great beauty at this time.
The Counter-Reformation
As with other European nations, Spain was ruled for much of its history by monarchy – not simply as a symbolic display but as an institution with absolute political control over both Spain and its territories.
Pope Paul IV initiated the Counter-Reformation during the 16th century in an effort to eradicate Protestantism from within Catholic churches. This movement was marked by both an aggressive absolutist approach as well as strong devotional forces.
The Age of Discovery
After Isabel and Ferdinand united their lands and funded Columbus’ voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, Spain quickly rose to become Europe’s dominant power. Gold from Americas fuelled this dominance and made Spain an international powerhouse.
Explorers and missionaries spread Spanish throughout Latin America, Africa, and Oceania with great force; yet this new world came at great cost; with it came brutality against indigenous populations forced conversion and deadly diseases that spread.
The Age of Exploration
European nations were at one time heavily dependent on land routes for trading with distant trading partners; therefore they sought new means of speeding up this process by searching out alternative sea routes.
Europe’s powerful monarchies were funding exploration with an eye toward expanding their power and wealth; Christopher Columbus was sponsored by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain.
After Spain conquered Granada in 1492, she could focus her energy and attention on overseas exploration – eventually leading to the discovery of America and building one of the largest empires ever known to human history.
The Age of Exploitation
After Christopher Columbus’ voyages, Spanish explorers developed a colonial empire which made Spain one of the primary powers in Europe. Gold and silver from America flowed directly into European banks fuelling this growth.
After conquering Granada in 1492, Spain could focus more fully on expanding overseas influence using both military and religious power to conquer new continents such as North and South America.
The Age of Enlightenment
Since Charles II, El Hechizado’s death in 1700, Spain had been under Bourbon rule. Philip of Anjou succeeded his heirless monarch as ruler and quickly began centralizing power and stripping viceroys of their special rights within Spanish territories; creating instead “intendancies” similar to their French counterparts.
Enlightenment ideas were spread widely through Spanish culture, from urban centers and bustling metropolises to remote frontiers and contact zones of colonial empire. Their wide distribution helped shape today’s political landscape of Spain.