Illustration
This map illustrates the dramatic rise and gradual decline of Spain as a global imperial power between the late 15th and late 17th centuries. Emerging from a union of northern Iberian kingdoms, Spain reached its zenith under Habsburg rule, controlling vast territories across Europe and overseas in the Americas, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.
The unification of Castile and Aragon through the marriage of Queen Isabella I of Castile (reign 1474–1504) and King Ferdinand II of Aragon (reign 1479–1516) laid the foundation for a consolidated Spanish monarchy. Following the conquest of Granada in 1492 and the beginning of American colonization under explorers like Christopher Columbus, Spain expanded rapidly. Under Charles I of Spain (reign 1516–1556), who also ruled as Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (reign 1519–1556), and later under Philip II (reign 1556–1598), Spain commanded territories stretching from the Netherlands and southern Italy to the Philippines and Peru. However, military overextension, costly wars, and internal crises, culminating during the reign of Charles II (reign 1665–1700), led to a gradual decline. By the end of the 17th century, Spain’s dominance waned, setting the stage for the War of the Spanish Succession and a shift in the European balance of power.
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Cite This Work
APA Style
Netchev, S. (2022, June 17). Map of Spain and the Spanish Indies. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16057/map-of-spain-and-the-spanish-indies/
Chicago Style
Netchev, Simeon. "Map of Spain and the Spanish Indies." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified June 17, 2022. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16057/map-of-spain-and-the-spanish-indies/.
MLA Style
Netchev, Simeon. "Map of Spain and the Spanish Indies." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 17 Jun 2022, https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16057/map-of-spain-and-the-spanish-indies/. Web. 17 Jul 2025.
