A Political History of Spain

The modern history of Spain begins with the unification of the kingdoms of Aragon and Castille adn the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella. A major political event of this era was the Spanish Inquisition in which many Jews and Muslims living in Spain at the time were either expelled or murdered. Spain really reached a poitical climax in the 16th century with the reign of the Habsburgs Charles I and Philip II. This is known as the Spanish Golden Age for the prosperity Spain enjoyed from its colonies in the New World. However, Spain experienced strain and pressure from mounting religious difficulties, including many costly wars. A prime example of such ventures is the Spanish Armada of 1588, which failed miserably. This would mark the beginning of the end for Spanish dominance. Spain's power was further depleted during the war of Spanish Succession, which involved a dispute over who was to acend to the throne of Spain. Although Spain was technically victorious in that a Bourbon king was allowed to come to power, Spain and France were not allowed to unify. This scared Spain so much that they became completely isolationist and in turn technologically backwards. Spain experienced another political change during the age of Napoleon when it came under control of Naopoleon's brother. Still Spain remained virtually weak for the ensuing decades. Up until the 20th century, the most significant event was the Spainsh American War, which also weakend Spain. During the 1900's, there was a period of authoritarian rule followed by the establishment of a republic. Spain experienced a civil war in the late 1930's, with the nationalistic rebels being victorious. It continued to endure a sense of separatism when it was not admitted into the United Nations until 1955. Today, it still remains rather isolated and involved in its own domestic terrorist problems.