The rise and fall of the Spanish Empire

At its peak the Spanish empire stretched from Italy and the Netherlands to Peru and the Philippines. Its influence remains very significant to the history of Europe and the Americas. Maltby provides a concise and readable history of the empire's dramatic rise and fall, with special emphasis on the economy, institutions and intellectual movements. In the three centuries of the Empire's existence Spain imposed its language, its faith, and many elements of its culture on much of the New World. Millions perished and ancient empires were destroyed, but more than 300 million people speak Spanish today, and the fusion of Spanish and indigenous elements has created a vibrant and expanding culture. The author describes the rise and fall of this Spanish Empire giving particular emphasis to its economy and institutions and the cultural and intellectual movements that formed them. Concise and readable, this book introduces students and the general reader to one of the most important and dramatic episodes in world history. - Back cover William Maltby. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 198-210) And Index.