Скачать или смотреть The Rise and Fall of the First Global Empire Spain

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In the flow of history, some nations have risen to become global superpowers thanks to superior military strength and a powerful economy, dominating the world with vast territories. Spain, though a "latecomer" compared to its neighboring empires, was precisely the first global superpower in human history. Let's explore the journey of this empire's formation, zenith, and then decline.

**Formation from the Ashes of Al-Andalus (8th - 15th Centuries):**
*711:* An army largely composed of Berbers (not just Arabs) under the banner of Islam crossed the Strait of Gibraltar from North Africa, invaded, and quickly conquered almost the entire Iberian Peninsula.
*8th-11th Centuries:* The Muslims (collectively called Moors) established powerful Islamic states, notably **Al-Andalus**, bringing a period of prosperity in culture, science, and economy.
*Late 11th Century:* Al-Andalus weakened due to civil war. The small Christian kingdoms in the North (like Castile, León, Aragon, Navarre, Portugal) began the *Reconquista* (Reconquest), expanding their territories. **In 1085**, Toledo - an important cultural center - fell.
*13th Century:* Muslim territory was severely reduced. *Only the Kingdom of Granada* in the far South remained, existing as a tributary vassal state.
*1469:* The historic marriage between *Princess Isabella I of Castile* and *Prince Ferdinand II of Aragon* united the two strongest Christian kingdoms. This was the foundation for the birth of a unified Spain.
*January 2, 1492 (Important Milestone):*
*End of the Reconquista:* The armies of Isabella and Ferdinand captured *Granada**, ending **781 years* of Muslim rule on the Iberian Peninsula.
*Unification and Naming:* The name "Spain" (España) was officially used for this unified kingdom.
*Opened the Age of Discovery:* Under the patronage of the royal couple, *Christopher Columbus* embarked on his sea voyage across the Atlantic, paving the way to the "New World" (the Americas) in October 1492. This event laid the foundation for the global empire.

Though it has declined, the Spanish Empire left a colossal legacy: Spanish, the world's second most spoken language, vibrant Latin American culture, Colonial Architecture, legal systems, and profound cultural blending across the continents it once touched. Its rise and fall is a profound historical lesson on dependence on resources, costly wars, and the importance of reform and adaptation.