why did the spain rule the seas and claim an empire in the 15th and 16th centuries?

Answer 1

They had the resources and the motivation.

Being on a major peninsula gave them access to lots of trade, which filled their coffers.

Defeating the Muslims strengthened their military and united the Spanish in nationalistic pride.

So they had well trained men and the money to fund expediations. The Pyrenees had managed to keep them out of the arguments north of it, so while Spain and France were fighting, the spanish had time to build a major trading empire.

they also had to compete with Portugual, who was doing much the same thing for the same reasons.

so they took all their buff, testerone-driven ex-soldiers, pointed them to the ocean, and said, "Go get 'em boys!"

Answer 2

In 1492, Pope Alexander VI told the Catholic Countries of Spain and Portugal (because they were Catholic) that they had the god-given right to dominate the world. The Spanish and the Portugese, already interested in seaching for resources such as gold, patronise famous explorers and navigators such as Columbus, Cortez.

What also helps Spain and Portugal on the road to Empire is the desire by Spanish monarchs for further wealth outside of Europe. The domination of Europe by France and the Holy Roman Empire under the Habsburgs completely shuts out Spain from any real pretensions of becoming a European power by conquest in Europe. Spain must search elsewhere.

The benefits of conquest start driving the Spanish economy, allowing the Spanish kings to make further developments to increase their power - especially against a very powerful France on its northern borders. Conquest also brings Spanish kings fame and recognition - Spain becomes a force to be reckoned with. An example is the power of the Spanish armada set out to subdue England - and the attemped arranged marriage between Phillip ii and the girl who would become English Queen Elizabeth 1.

These explorers set out retracing old trade routes and myths about the other side of the oceans. The discoveries of America, South America, Cuba, South East Asia - the Philippines, starts in train the massive exploration and colonisation by Spain and Portugal.

Of course - no one saw our Jealous England would become at the Pope's proclamation. And for the next century, England would do everything it could to challenge Spanish supremacy.

Answer 3

Firstly the Spanish never came close to ´ruling´the seas. They assembled vast numbers of ships for the purpose of plundering the ´New World´, and most of the great tales of derring-do involve British, Dutch and French ´Privateers´, the forerunners of the ´famous´ Pirates of the Caribbean, the word ´pirate´ is a contraction of privateer. All of these scurvy lads were plundering the Spanish fleets, who were very good at ripping off bunch of lo-tech gullible natives, but couldn´t keep the booty against their European counterparts.

Their émpire´came thanks to the revolting and dusgusting habits of people like Cortez in what is now Mexico, and Pizarro in modern-day Peru. These people were the scum of the earth, Cortes showed his colours when offered all the treasures of the Aztec capital his reply was to annihilate his hosts by sword and musket, without warning or grace.

To call this ´Empire´ is to give it status not merited, even by the odd standards of the colonial era.

Answer 4

Because they had the mightiest fleet, not unlike the British did later.

Or, if you're asking about motivation: to gain power over the world and find riches, because their King wanted to be the most powerful.

Answer 5

Why? Because they could.

Answer 6

Because they traveled the world by sea and conquered other countries. (duh)