History of Spain

place in the history of Western Europe in the sixteenth century. Historians have experienced considerable difficulty trying to pin him down in broad historical categories: he was a humanist, except for when he burned Muslim books in order to suppress their text-based philosophy. He was an ecclesiastical reformer, except for his unwillingness to create serious change within the Spanish Inquisition. The contradictions above are created by the focuses of scholarship, as traditional histories…

He wrote in his journal "I could conquer the whole of them with fifty men and govern them as I pleased.” (James W. Lowen, Source 1) Before leaving, Columbus kidnapped ten to twenty-five natives and took them back to Spain on his first voyage, which caused a stir, so Queen Isabella, and King Ferdinand supplied them with seventeen ships, 1,200 to 1,500 men, and weapons for a second voyage. When they returned to Haiti in 1493, he demanded them to give food, gold, cotton…

Along with him seeking fortune, he also was in search for a westward sea route to the riches of Spice Islands of Indonesia. Queen Isabella and King Charles I, who later became Charles V, funded his voyage. Magellan set sail from Spain in 1519 with about 250 men and five ships, sailing around the southern end of South America. He and his crew sailed for months without a sight of land with the exception of small islands. During those months, food supply ran short. In 1520 he explored…

The Comedia of Virginity: Mary and the Politics of Seventeenth-Century Spanish Theater was written by Mirzam C. Perez and published on October 15th 2012. This theater history book essentially discusses the important role that the character of the Virgin Mary had in 17th Century Spanish theater and politics. The author argues that there was much more to character of Mary than just her purity during this time. She argues that the Virgin Mary also represented something people could use to…

conquests led to many changes in Latin American history, and had effects on the Spanish present day; but changes to European cultures and trading aspects back in the 16th century are insignificant. The Conquest of Mexico was basically the capture of the Aztec Empire, which was ruled by emperor Montezuma. The Conquest of Peru was the capture of the Inca Empire, which was ruled by emperor Atahualpa. With these cruel and tragic events, the culture and history of these civilizations might have had…

journeys for pride, fame, and money; and he would stop at nothing to achieve these things. He tainted his voyages with his own pride and greed, taking as much as he could and giving nothing back. Although he is often painted as a hero throughout history books, Christopher Columbus was in actuality a disturbed and greedy man, causing thousands to suffer in his own hunt for fame, power, and wealth. Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy and spent most of his early life studying mapmaking and sailing,…

second, third, and fourth voyage. Songs have been written, stories have been told, and history books often credit Columbus as the forefather of America. Columbus is arguably one of the most influential individuals in American history and his impact is still felt today. In this paper I will begin by discussing the explicit account of Columbus’s first voyage to “The Indies” in his letter to the king and queen of Spain. Then I will go into detail of the implicit meaning behind his letter and the…

It is always concentrated on one being. I believe individualism comes from American ideologies because of our national history. We as Americans have a sense of the “American dream”. This is when one individual can overcome any circumstance and obstacle and climb the social and financial ladders to the top and make their mark in not only American history but perhaps world history. This was obvious in Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography and my response to it. “Ben Franklin tested himself, with great…

Barcelona, Spain is considered the capital of Catalonia—a culturally autonomous region, notable for its desire to become a separate nation. The origins of this unique identity can best be understood through the Annales School assertion that earliest histories are formative of culture. The story of Giufré el Pílos (Wilfred the Hairy) is the most influential of early Catalonian histories, and presents the Catalonian values of bravery, social order, and national autonomy. The durability of this…

The more land a person owned, the more wealth and power that person had. European rulers, like the King of Spain and the King of Portugal, wanted to claim as much land as possible and use the people that originally lived there as slaves. Some countries would literally do anything to possess more land. They believed that glory was to be found in the adventure…