Formation of an Empire Through Power and Greed
Joshua Atler
9/27/14
Modern World History Honors
Mr. Hardy Ferdinand II was born in 1452 as the son of John II of Aragon. In 1468, he became the king of Sicily, an island near Italy. Before he became the king of Aragon, he married Isabella I in 1469. She was the future queen of Castile, and Ferdinand was the future king of Aragon. In 1474, Isabella inherited the throne of Castile. John II died in 1479, and Ferdinand II then rose to the throne of Aragon. This personal union established by the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella united the kingdoms or Aragon and Castile, creating the modern nation of Spain. The two monarchs ruled Spain together and greatly influenced the beginning of the …show more content…
Ferdinand’s rule initiated the rise of the Spanish empire by solidifying the control of Iberia and by establishing a colonial empire in the Americas.
First, the marriage between Ferdinand and Isabella firmly united the kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula, which established Spain as a major power on the European continent. Ferdinand and Isabella strengthened the power of the monarchy by reducing the power of the nobility, paving the way for later kings who ruled Spain with absolute power, like Philip II. For the most part, Ferdinand and Isabella made decisions about policies together, and their motto was “Tanto monta, monta tanto,” which means “They are one and the same,” referring to their joint rule over …show more content…
Ferdinand and Isabella announced the Alhambra Decree in March 1492, which stated that all Jews who did not convert to Catholicism must leave the country or die. Later, the Muslims were also forced to leave the country or die. Tomás de Torquemada, a Dominican friar, was the first leader of the inquisition. Under the command of Ferdinand and Isabella, he threatened his victims with death if they did not repent. Torquemada was notorious for his brutal interrogations and torture methods. The Inquisition was especially suspicious of Jews and Muslims who converted to Catholicism because the new converts often secretly practiced their own religion. Jews who converted were called conversos, and Muslims who converted were called moriscos. Many Jews and Muslims sincerely converted to Catholicism and were not practicing their former religion, but the Inquisition gave them no benefit of the doubt. If the Inquisition was a just cause, which it is not, Ferdinand and Isabella should have made sure that the suspects were innocent until proven guilty. Thousands of Jews and Muslims fled from Spain to avoid the brutal Inquisition. In 1494, the pope gives Ferdinand and Isabella the title “Los Reyes Católicos,” or “The Catholic Kings” to recognize their strong dedication to the Catholic faith. Ferdinand and Isabella wanted the Spanish monarchy to be the unquestionable authority in Spain, and they felt
Joshua Atler
9/27/14
Modern World History Honors
Mr. Hardy Ferdinand II was born in 1452 as the son of John II of Aragon. In 1468, he became the king of Sicily, an island near Italy. Before he became the king of Aragon, he married Isabella I in 1469. She was the future queen of Castile, and Ferdinand was the future king of Aragon. In 1474, Isabella inherited the throne of Castile. John II died in 1479, and Ferdinand II then rose to the throne of Aragon. This personal union established by the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella united the kingdoms or Aragon and Castile, creating the modern nation of Spain. The two monarchs ruled Spain together and greatly influenced the beginning of the …show more content…
Ferdinand’s rule initiated the rise of the Spanish empire by solidifying the control of Iberia and by establishing a colonial empire in the Americas.
First, the marriage between Ferdinand and Isabella firmly united the kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula, which established Spain as a major power on the European continent. Ferdinand and Isabella strengthened the power of the monarchy by reducing the power of the nobility, paving the way for later kings who ruled Spain with absolute power, like Philip II. For the most part, Ferdinand and Isabella made decisions about policies together, and their motto was “Tanto monta, monta tanto,” which means “They are one and the same,” referring to their joint rule over …show more content…
Ferdinand and Isabella announced the Alhambra Decree in March 1492, which stated that all Jews who did not convert to Catholicism must leave the country or die. Later, the Muslims were also forced to leave the country or die. Tomás de Torquemada, a Dominican friar, was the first leader of the inquisition. Under the command of Ferdinand and Isabella, he threatened his victims with death if they did not repent. Torquemada was notorious for his brutal interrogations and torture methods. The Inquisition was especially suspicious of Jews and Muslims who converted to Catholicism because the new converts often secretly practiced their own religion. Jews who converted were called conversos, and Muslims who converted were called moriscos. Many Jews and Muslims sincerely converted to Catholicism and were not practicing their former religion, but the Inquisition gave them no benefit of the doubt. If the Inquisition was a just cause, which it is not, Ferdinand and Isabella should have made sure that the suspects were innocent until proven guilty. Thousands of Jews and Muslims fled from Spain to avoid the brutal Inquisition. In 1494, the pope gives Ferdinand and Isabella the title “Los Reyes Católicos,” or “The Catholic Kings” to recognize their strong dedication to the Catholic faith. Ferdinand and Isabella wanted the Spanish monarchy to be the unquestionable authority in Spain, and they felt