The reign of the Catholic Monarchs

     The Catholic Monarchs, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, unified Spain geographically and expanded their territories.

     In 1492, they conquered the Kingdom of Granada. They also completed the conquest of the Canary Islands. They took the Kingdom of Naples in Italy and  small territories in the north of Africa. Finally, in 1512, the Crown of Castile annexed the Kingdom of Navarre.

     In 1492, the Catholic Monarchs financed the expedition of Christopher Columbus, which led to the  discovery of America.

     The Catholic Monarchs ensured long-term political stability in Spain by arranging strategic marriages

for each of their five children with the children of other monarchs in Europe.