"Modern" Spain began in the year 1469 with the marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile, known as the Catholic Monarchs. The marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella united the two most important Kingdoms in the region, thus creating the Kingdom of Spain. The forward thinking actions of Ferdinand and Isabella, notably with their support of explorers such as Christopher Columbus, was the beginning of the mighty Spanish Empire, one of the largest in the world.
Spanish conquistadors conquered civilizations and claimed vast stretches of land from North to South America for the Spanish Empire. Throughout the 16th and 17th century, Spain was the dominate force in Europe with their famous armada ruling the sea and their famous tercios ruling the battlefield. This period of time was also known as Spain's cultural golden age for they were also experiencing a time of flourishing arts and literature.
Art and Literature coming from the golden age of Spain include:
El Greco
Diego Velazquez
Miguel de Cervantes and his story of Don Quixote
By the mid 17th century though, Spain's dominance in Europe was waning.
Take a look at more of the art produced during Spain's cultural golden age. Do you see similarities between different art. Does it look like there is a shared style that defines the "golden age"?
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