CATHOLICS KINGS

  1. THE MARRIAGE OF ISABELLA AND FERDINAND

In the middle of the 15 th century, the Iberian Peninsula was divided into five kingdoms: Castille, Aragon, Navarre, Portugal and the Muslim kingdom of Granada. 

Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon married in 1469. Within a decade, they both inherited their kingdoms. This led to the creation of the Spanish monarchy in 1479.

The Kingdoms of Aragon and Castile were unified under one crown, but each retained its own laws, government, language and frontiers.

2. THE EXPANSION OF THE MONARCHY

The Catholic Monarchs expanded their power by uniting the other territories of the Iberian Peninsula.

In 1492 they, they conquered  the Muslim kingdom of  Granada after ten years of war.

Starting in 1496, they annexed the Canary Islands, Melilla and  Orán in North África.

 A SUMMARIZE VIDEO ( IF YOU HADN’T LEARNT) / This video is in Spanish.

3. GREAT GEOGRAPHICAL DISCOVERIES

The long voyages made by European explores, mainly from Portugal and Spain, proved that the world was bigger than people thought.

THOUGHT BEFORE 

THOUGHT AFTER

The most  important discovered was done by Christopher Columbus proposed  sailing west and crossing the Atlantic Ocean to reach India, instead of sailing east around Africa. In 1492, he reached the Americans in the name of  the Kingdom of Castille.

Now, you can see this video about the discovery of America that he have prepared for you! We hope that you will understand it better. 😁

  4. SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES 

A series of technical and scientific advances made maritime expeditions possible.

 - The construction of the caravel, a very robust ship that was able to cope with Atlantics storms.
  - New devices, such as the compass and the astrolable, which helped with navigation

 -  Portolan charts showing the profile of the coasts and maritime routes.