Key topic 1: Spain reaches the Americas, c1490–1512 - 1 Spanish…

The idea

In c1490, Spain was shaped by a powerful crusading spirit and growing foreign ambitions, driven by the recent unification of Castile and Aragon under Isabella and Ferdinand. The Reconquista, the centuries-long campaign to expel Muslims from the Iberian Peninsula, culminated in the fall of Granada in 1492. This victory fostered a militant Catholic zeal, creating a society of battle-hardened soldiers (conquistadors) eager to spread Christianity and gain personal glory. Concurrently, Spain sought to expand its wealth and influence to compete with its rival, Portugal, which dominated the African trade routes. This combination of religious fervour and the desire for new, lucrative trade routes to Asia fuelled Spain's outward-looking foreign policy and readiness to sponsor overseas exploration.

What earns the marks

• Explain the impact of the Reconquista on Spanish society, creating a militant, crusading Catholic identity.
• Identify the fall of Granada in 1492 as a catalyst for redirecting Spanish military energies outward.
• Describe Spain's foreign ambitions to compete with Portugal for wealth and control of lucrative trade routes.
• Link the desire to spread Christianity with the pursuit of national glory and economic expansion.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Assuming Spain was a single, unified country long before 1490.

  Put it right by noting the recent dynastic union of Castile and Aragon.

• Viewing Spanish exploration as purely economic.

  Put it right by emphasising the genuine religious motivation stemming from the crusading spirit.

• Confusing Spanish and Portuguese exploration routes.

  Put it right by explaining Spain sought western routes because Portugal controlled the eastern routes around Africa.

Exam tips

• Use the term 'Reconquista' to demonstrate specific historical knowledge of Spain's crusading background.
• Explain how religious and economic motives were intertwined in Spanish foreign ambitions.
• Contrast Spain's ambitions with Portugal's established successes to explain the urgency of Spanish exploration.