Earliest Settlements
Earliest Settlements in Spain on Dipity.
Colonization
Colonization History of Spain on Dipity.
It all started with Christopher Columbus. Although Columbus himself was not a Spaniard, when he could not receive financial support for his great expedition from his own home country of Italy, he sought the help of Spain. Queen Isabella of Castille and King Ferdinand of Aragon took a great gamble when they decided to sponsor Columbus' trip to the great unknown, but the payout was immense. Columbus discovered American soil on October 12, 1492 and it opened many doors for the country of Spain, who of course had first dibs. Two years later, to settle conflict, Spain signed a treaty with its neighboring country Portugal, dividing up the territory. Spain got all territory to the west of the line of Tordesillas and Portugal got everything to the east of it (really only Brazil). Therefore, the majority of South and Central America went to Spain. On November 8, 1519, Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes overtook the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan (which is in modern day Mexico), officially establishing dominance over the land and the people.
For centuries, Spain held power over its colonies until the 19th century. The Spanish War of Independence broke out on May 2, 1808. The Spanish people were fighting in their own land, in the city of Madrid, against the dictator Napoleon. When the colonies across the ocean heard of this war of independence, it sparked some ideas. In the year 1818, Chile was the first modern day country to gain its independence from Spain, which caused a domino effect. One by one, each of its colonies fought for its own independence as well. Perhaps its largest colony, Mexico, gained independence in the year 1824, officially ending Spanish rule in the Americas.
For centuries, Spain held power over its colonies until the 19th century. The Spanish War of Independence broke out on May 2, 1808. The Spanish people were fighting in their own land, in the city of Madrid, against the dictator Napoleon. When the colonies across the ocean heard of this war of independence, it sparked some ideas. In the year 1818, Chile was the first modern day country to gain its independence from Spain, which caused a domino effect. One by one, each of its colonies fought for its own independence as well. Perhaps its largest colony, Mexico, gained independence in the year 1824, officially ending Spanish rule in the Americas.