Spain's History
In 206 B.C., Spain, which was inhabited by the Celts, Iberians, and Basques, became part of the Roman Empire. This happened when Scipio Africanus conquered it. Later on in 412 A.D., the Visigothic leader, Ataulf, crossed the Pyrenees and ruled Spain. He did this originally under the Roman Empire and then later he ruled it independently. In 711 however, the Muslims ruled by Tariq entered Spain through Africa. Within the next few years, they completely subjugated, brought under complete control, the country of Spain. In 732 Charles Martel led the Franks into Spain, defeated the Muslim control, and thus stopped the spread of Islam throughout the southern part of Europe. Now that the Franks were in control, it started to receive a steady flow of the Christian religion into Spain.
From the 12th to 15th century, Aragon and Castile were the most important Spanish states. In 1469, they were consolidated by the marriage of Ferdinand II and Isabella I. Under the control of them, the Inquisition was established. Their goal was to root out heresy, and uncover Muslims and Jews who were not fully converted to Christianity. One of the most notorious of the great inquisitors was Torquemada. He “epitomized” the cruelty and harshness of the Inquisition making the punishment for not being fully Christian torture.
In 1492, the last Muslim stronghold, Grenada, was captured. Roman Catholicism became the primary religion in Spain causing most Jews and Muslims to be expelled out of the country. Spain became a vast and wealthy colonial empire in the era of exploration and discovery. They did this through the conquest of Mexico, led by Cortes (1519–1521), and Peru, led by Pizarro (1532-1533). For a short time, the Spanish Hapsburg monarchy was the most powerful in the world. This was until Phillip II sent his ‘’invincible” Armada into England in 1588. The destruction it caused cost Spain its supremacy on the seas, thus, paving the way for England’s colonization of America. Soon thereafter, Spain sank rapidly to a second-rate power under the rule of second rate Hapsburg kings. In European politics, it never again played a major role.
Spain’s loss of Belgium, Luxembourg, Milan, Sardinia, and Naples was because of the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714). Caused by Spain’s wars and revolutions during the 18th and 19th centuries, its colonial empire in the Americas and Philippines vanished. In World War I, Spain remained to neutral. General Miguel Primo became a dictator of Spain in 1923, until in 1930 when King Alfonso XIII revoked the dictatorship. However, a strong antimonarchist and republican movement led his leaving Spain in 1931. Because of the new constitution established in Spain, Spain’s workers were declared republic, large estates were broken up, the church and state were separated, and the schools were secularized. The elections held in 1936 returned a strong popular front majority, with Manuel Azaña as the president.
From the 12th to 15th century, Aragon and Castile were the most important Spanish states. In 1469, they were consolidated by the marriage of Ferdinand II and Isabella I. Under the control of them, the Inquisition was established. Their goal was to root out heresy, and uncover Muslims and Jews who were not fully converted to Christianity. One of the most notorious of the great inquisitors was Torquemada. He “epitomized” the cruelty and harshness of the Inquisition making the punishment for not being fully Christian torture.
In 1492, the last Muslim stronghold, Grenada, was captured. Roman Catholicism became the primary religion in Spain causing most Jews and Muslims to be expelled out of the country. Spain became a vast and wealthy colonial empire in the era of exploration and discovery. They did this through the conquest of Mexico, led by Cortes (1519–1521), and Peru, led by Pizarro (1532-1533). For a short time, the Spanish Hapsburg monarchy was the most powerful in the world. This was until Phillip II sent his ‘’invincible” Armada into England in 1588. The destruction it caused cost Spain its supremacy on the seas, thus, paving the way for England’s colonization of America. Soon thereafter, Spain sank rapidly to a second-rate power under the rule of second rate Hapsburg kings. In European politics, it never again played a major role.
Spain’s loss of Belgium, Luxembourg, Milan, Sardinia, and Naples was because of the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714). Caused by Spain’s wars and revolutions during the 18th and 19th centuries, its colonial empire in the Americas and Philippines vanished. In World War I, Spain remained to neutral. General Miguel Primo became a dictator of Spain in 1923, until in 1930 when King Alfonso XIII revoked the dictatorship. However, a strong antimonarchist and republican movement led his leaving Spain in 1931. Because of the new constitution established in Spain, Spain’s workers were declared republic, large estates were broken up, the church and state were separated, and the schools were secularized. The elections held in 1936 returned a strong popular front majority, with Manuel Azaña as the president.