Overview
Like many other countries Spain was divided at the beginning of the Renaissance into five major territories. These included the independent state of Portugal, the northern state of Navarre, the southern Muslim state of Granada, the large central state of Castile, and the eastern state of Aragon. By the end of the era, however, the states were unified.
The first big motion towards unification was the union of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile. Together they worked to strengthen control of their states, especially Castile, and filled the royal council with middle-class lawyers. The two also managed to create a standing army in Spain that became the best in Europe by the end of the 1500's. Ferdinand and Isabella also secured the right to pick the important figures in the clergy which gave them control of the church in Spain. They also worked, with the Inquisition, to expel the Jews from Spain. Under the Inquisition about 150,000 Jews fled Spain. The Muslims were also persecuted against and their state of Granada was taken by the two, thus ending the large Muslim presence in Spain.
The first big motion towards unification was the union of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile. Together they worked to strengthen control of their states, especially Castile, and filled the royal council with middle-class lawyers. The two also managed to create a standing army in Spain that became the best in Europe by the end of the 1500's. Ferdinand and Isabella also secured the right to pick the important figures in the clergy which gave them control of the church in Spain. They also worked, with the Inquisition, to expel the Jews from Spain. Under the Inquisition about 150,000 Jews fled Spain. The Muslims were also persecuted against and their state of Granada was taken by the two, thus ending the large Muslim presence in Spain.