1. The Spanish Empire
1450-1800
Theme 3, Part 2
Kendra Lacasella
History of the Americas Online
October 27, 2011

2. History of Spain
• Involves all the other • For the next 3
peoples and nations centuries, Spain was the
within the Iberian most important colonial
peninsula. power in the world.
• Today it still includes • During this time Spanish
the nations of literature and fine arts
Andorra, Gibraltar, Port flourished.
ugal, and Spain.
• It was created in 1492.

3. Habsburg Spain
• Over the 16th and 17th • but… after dominating
centuries, Spain was Europe politically and
ruled by the major militarily, Spain
branch of the Habsburg experienced a decline in
dynasty. in influence under the
• Habsburg Spain was the later Habsburg kings.
worlds greatest power
for over a century.
• This was called the age
of expansion.

4. Habsburg Spain cont.
• The empire was
controlled from
Seville, Spain.
• The Great plague of
Seville killed up to 25%
of Seville’s population
and the economy could
never recover fully.

5. Habsburg Spain cont.
• The trade and industry in
Spain grew but was fairly
limited.
• Spain became dependent
on foreign sources of raw
materials and manufactured
goods.
• Economic and
administrative problems
multiplied in Castile
– This lead to weakness in the
native economy.
– Rising inflation
– Economic draining wars.

6. Spanish Empire
• The empire consisted of • There was mixed
territories and colonies population due to the
administered by Spain colonization in Spanish
in Europe, the America.
Americas, Africa, Asia, a
nd Oceania.
• Roman Catholic faith
was brought to the
Americas, Indies, and
different parts of Africa
during the colonization.

7. Spanish Empire cont.
• After Columbus, the
Spanish colonization was
lead by a series of
warrior- explorers that
are called Conquistadors.
• These conquistadors lead
the way to Spanish
settlements being
progressively established
in the New World.