Spanish Exploration of the Americas
The Spanish established the first European settlements in the Americas beginning in the Caribbean, and by 1600, extending throughout Central and South America. Thousands of Spaniards flocked to the Americas seeking wealth and status. The most famous of these Spanish adventurers is also the most controversial, Christopher Columbus, who, though Italian himself, explored on behalf of the Spanish
monarchs.
The history of Spanish exploration begins with the history of Spain itself. During the fifteenth century, Spain hoped to gain advantage over its rival, Portugal. The marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile in 1469 unified Catholic Spain and began the process of building a nation that could compete for worldwide power. Since the 700s, much of Spain had been under Islamic rule, and King Ferdinand II and
Queen Isabella I were determined to defeat the Muslims in Granada, the last Islamic stronghold in Spain. In 1492, they completed the centuries-long Christian conquest of the Spanish territory. This marked another step forward in the process of making Spain a European power, and Ferdinand and Isabella were now ready to look further afield.
