Isabella I was the Queen of Castile from 1474 until her death in 1504. She married Ferdinand II of Aragon, which led to a united Spain. She is also known for financing Christopher Columbus' voyage to America.
Imagine Isabella as a CEO merging two companies (Castille and Aragon) into one mega-corporation (Spain), while also investing in risky start-ups that end up being hugely successful (Christopher Columbus' voyages).
Queen Regnant: A female monarch who reigns in her own right, rather than through marriage to a king. This describes Isabella's role as queen.
Spanish Inquisition: An institution established by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella aimed at maintaining Catholic orthodoxy during their reign.
Columbian Exchange: The widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, diseases, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World in the 15th and 16th centuries. This was a direct result of Isabella's sponsorship of Columbus' voyages.
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.