In this classic text Henry Kamen shows how Spain achieved world power in the sixteenth, seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries by examining crucial political events and foreign policy during the reigns of each of the nations rulers, from Ferdinand and Isabella at the end of the fifteenth century to Philip V at the beginning of the eighteenth century. Features: Looks at both internal and external conflicts Comprehensive bibliography Includes maps, a dynastic table and a chronology Detailed treatment of social and cultural history This brand new Edition features revised illustrations and...

Philip V, who reluctantly assumed the Spanish throne in 1700, was the first of the Bourbon dynasty which continues to rule Spain today. His 46-year reign, briefly curtailed in 1724 when he abdicated in favour of his short-lived son, Louis I, was one of the most important in the country's history. This highly readable account is the first biography of Philip V in English. Previous writing on Philip has been largely negative, dismissing him as comic, stupid and indolent. Henry Kamen demonstrates here, however, that the king initiated significant developments in politics, imperial policy,...

Was the Golden Age of Spain in the sixteenth century an illusion? By introducing and examining some of the key issues and themes involved, Henry Kamen offers a balanced discussion of this question. The second edition of this book has been thoroughly revised and rewritten in the light of recent research, while new chapters have been added which cover such material as religion and culture.