When did the Spanish Empire begin and end?
The Spanish Empire existed from 1492, with Christopher Columbus's first voyage, until 1976, making it one of the longest-lived colonial empires in history.
Questions about Spanish Empire
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What was the Treaty of Tordesillas?
Signed on the 7th of June 1494, the Treaty of Tordesillas divided the non-Christian world between Spain and Portugal along a north-south line. Portugal received Africa and Asia; Spain received the Western Hemisphere, with the later exception of Brazil.
Why did Spain's enormous silver wealth not make it prosperous?
Most of the silver from mines in Zacatecas, Guanajuato, and Potosi went toward paying mercenary soldiers and purchasing manufactured goods from northern Europe. The influx also reduced incentives for domestic industry, and wealthy Spaniards invested in government debt rather than manufacturing. Scholars at the School of Salamanca debated the resulting inflation.
What triggered the independence movements in Spanish America?
Napoleon's invasion of the Iberian peninsula in 1808 and his placement of his brother Joseph Bonaparte on the Spanish throne created a legitimacy crisis across Spanish America. Bourbon reforms had already strained relations with colonial elites, and local militias that had defeated British forces in 1807 gained the confidence to pursue independence.
What were the Bourbon Reforms?
The Bourbon Reforms were a series of administrative and economic changes introduced after Philip V took the Spanish throne in 1700. They included centralising power via the Nueva Planta decrees, moving Indies trade administration from Seville to Cadiz, establishing new trading companies, and loosening trade controls to stimulate colonial commerce.
When did Spain lose its last overseas territories?
Following the Spanish-American War, the Treaty of Paris in 1898 ceded Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam to the United States, and the Philippines were sold for 20 million US dollars. The final Spanish garrison in the Philippines was withdrawn on the 2nd of June 1899. Spain's African territories lasted longer, with Spanish Sahara relinquished in 1975.