"In 1490 there was no such country as Spain, yet within a century it had become the most powerful nation in Europe and within another had sunk to the status of a third-rate power." Spain experienced a social, economic, and political golden age during the sixteenth century. However, due to bad planning and decisions, Spain declined as a superior power.

The marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castille, in 1469, eventually united Spain under one crown and enabled the country to achieve a successful and productive monarchy. This marriage provided the financial means to fund foreign ventures as well as the royal support needed to maintain power overseas. The discovery of new lands was the major factor contributing to Spain's success. In 1492, Christopher Columbus, sailing for Spain, discovered land in the Bahamas, which he named San Salvador and claimed for the Spanish Monarchy. His claims paved the way for future Spanish imperialism.

Spain was of the most successful European countries during the sixteenth century. Nevertheless, the irresponsible decisions of King Philip II and the aristocracy had detrimental social, economic, and political effects on the excellence of Spain, causing it to sink to the status of a third-rate power.

Riches from the New World poured into Spain's port of Seville because Spanish expansion was based on finding and bringing precious metals back to the monarchy. The Spanish government seized all of the riches, including the silver mines, of the extremely wealthy Aztecs and in Peru, the Spaniards utilized the richest silver mines in all of the New World. Spain had led the world market of silver and gold. Charles V, successor to the Spanish throne after Ferdinand and Isabella's death, received a substantial amount of revenue from Spain's overseas colonies, such as the Spanish Indies. The merge of the Portuguese and Spanish crowns, in 1580, caused an increase in Spanish overseas power due to the fact that Portugal already possessed many colonies in the Americas. Due to a Spanish influence felt worldwide during the sixteenth century, this period of time has often been considered Spain's "Golden Century."

Due to a rigid social structure in Spain, dominated by nobility, young, ambitious men sought to advance, socially and economically, through overseas expeditions. In 1519, conquistador Hernando Cortez invaded Mexico. Within three years, he captured the Aztec Empire, plundered their enormous amount of wealth, captured the Aztec lead

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Approximate Word count = 1040
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)