TLDR;
This video tells the story of Spain, from its time under Muslim rule to its rise as a global superpower and its subsequent decline. It covers the key events and factors that contributed to Spain's rapid expansion and eventual collapse, including the Reconquista, the voyages of Christopher Columbus, the conquest of the Americas, the influx of gold and silver, internal conflicts, and wars of independence.
- Spain's transformation from Muslim rule to a global superpower.
- The role of Christopher Columbus and the conquest of the Americas.
- The impact of gold and silver on Spain's economy and society.
- The internal conflicts and external threats that led to the decline of the Spanish Empire.
Spain's Origins and the Reconquista [0:00]
The video begins by highlighting Spain's current geographical boundaries and contrasting them with the vast empire it once controlled. It then goes back to the 18th century when Spain was under Muslim rule, known as Al-Andalus, for approximately 800 years. During this period, Spain experienced significant advancements in science, philosophy, and architecture. However, the Muslim rulers faced constant resistance from Christian kingdoms in a movement called the Reconquista, a centuries-long effort to expel Muslims from Spain. By the late 15th century, Christian forces had regained control of most of Spain, confining Muslim rule to Granada.
Unification and the Voyages of Christopher Columbus [1:56]
In 1469, Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon married, uniting their kingdoms to strengthen Christian control and expel the Muslims. In 1492, they conquered Granada, completing the Reconquista and gaining full control of Spain. This victory opened opportunities for exploration and international trade. Inspired by the Portuguese Empire's successful exploration of trade routes to South and East Asia, Christopher Columbus proposed sailing west to reach Asia. The Spanish monarchs supported Columbus's idea, hoping to establish their own trade routes.
Discovery of the Americas and the Treaty of Tordesillas [3:28]
On August 3, 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail from Spain and, after two months, reached an island he believed to be in Eastern Asia, naming it San Salvador. He returned to Spain in 1493, reporting the discovery of new islands. Columbus embarked on three more voyages, exploring the Caribbean Islands and parts of Central America. Although he did not find a new route to Asia, his discoveries of a new continent sparked global interest. To resolve disputes over the new lands, Spain and Portugal signed the Treaty of Tordesillas, dividing the world outside Europe between them. This treaty led to Brazil becoming a Portuguese-speaking territory within South America, while the rest of the continent primarily speaks Spanish.
Conquest of the Americas [5:49]
Following the Treaty of Tordesillas, the Spanish Empire began establishing permanent settlements in the Americas. They built cities like Santo Domingo and expanded their presence throughout the Caribbean and Central America, with Cuba serving as the region's headquarters. Spanish explorers continued to explore the continent, eventually reaching the Yucatan Islands and hearing reports of powerful civilizations to the west. In 1518, Hernán Cortés landed in Mexico and, after two years of battle, captured the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan in 1520, renaming it Mexico City. The Spanish also conquered the Inca civilization in South America, aided by diseases brought from Europe that decimated the local population due to lack of immunity. By 1530, the Spanish Empire controlled a vast area of the Americas.
Expansion and Exploitation [7:57]
While exploring the Americas, Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan discovered the Philippines in the Eastern Asia. By 1570, the Spanish Empire had taken complete control of Philippines and from here it was keeping an eye on Asian geo politics. As the Spanish Empire expanded, it sought resources and wealth in South America, extracting gold and silver from mines in Mexico, Bolivia, and Peru. By the end of the 16th century, Spain received so much gold that it struggled to store it, controlling 80% of the world's gold and silver supply. This exploitation of resources led to the exhaustion of South America's wealth and the formation of a hybrid society with distinct social classes: the Mestizos (children of Spanish men and local women), the Criollos (children of Spanish parents born in America), and the Peninsulares (Spanish-born rulers).
Decline and Independence [9:48]
By the 17th century, conflicts arose between the social classes in the Spanish Empire, with Criollos and Mestizos seeking self-governance. Simultaneously, external threats emerged as British and French explorers established colonies in North America and the British tried to seize control of Caribbean islands. In 1808, Napoleon's invasion of Spain created an opportunity for South American colonies to seek independence. Between 1816 and 1824, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru declared independence, leading to the rapid collapse of the 400-year-old Spanish Empire. By the end of the 19th century, only Cuba, Puerto Rico, some Caribbean islands, and the Philippines remained under Spanish control. After losing the Spanish-American War in 1898, Spain lost control of these last remaining colonies. The video concludes by reflecting on the transformation of the once-mighty Spanish Empire into the present-day country of Spain.