Spain

The fall of Granada on January 2, 1492, marked the end of the Reconquista, the centuries-long process in which Christian kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula sought to reclaim territory from Muslim rule. The Catholic Monarchs, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, captured the city leading to the surrender of Boabdil, the last Nasrid Sultan of Granada, effectively ending Muslim rule in Iberia.

On October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus, sailing under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, reached the Americas for the first time. His arrival in the New World marked the beginning of European exploration and colonization, fundamentally changing the course of history. Columbus was initially seeking a westward route to Asia, but his voyages opened up the Americas to European expansion.

The Spanish Armada was defeated on July 29, 1588, by the English navy. King Philip II of Spain launched the Armada as part of an attempt to overthrow Protestant Queen Elizabeth I of England. The defeat was a significant moment in European history, emphasizing the rising power of England and the decline of Spanish dominance. Storms and strategic errors led to the Armada's failure.

The War of the Spanish Succession began in 1701 and lasted until 1714. Triggered by the death of the childless Charles II of Spain, the conflict was a European war fought primarily over who should inherit the Spanish throne. It involved multiple European powers, including France and a coalition of England, the Netherlands, and the Holy Roman Empire. The war concluded with the Treaty of Utrecht.

The Peninsular War began on May 2, 1808, as part of the Napoleonic Wars. Sparked by a popular uprising against French occupation in Madrid, the war involved Spain, Portugal, and Great Britain fighting against the French Empire. It was a significant conflict leading to major social and political changes in Spain, ultimately contributing to the decline of Napoleonic power in Europe.

On April 14, 1931, the Second Spanish Republic was established following the abdication of King Alfonso XIII. The Republic heralded a new era of reform and modernization in Spain, characterized by significant social, economic, and political changes. This period was also marked by deep political divisions, which eventually led to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.

The Spanish Civil War began on July 18, 1936, as Francisco Franco led a military coup against the Second Spanish Republic. The war was characterized by its ideological divisions, with Republicans and Nationalists fighting for control of the country. The conflict lasted until 1939 and resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands, leaving Spain under a dictatorship until Franco's death in 1975.

On December 6, 1978, Spain ratified its current democratic constitution. The constitution marked the transition of Spain from the authoritarian regime of Francisco Franco, who had died in 1975, to a democratic constitutional monarchy. It established the framework for the current Spanish government and guaranteed civil liberties, autonomy for regional governments, and human rights.

On February 23, 1981, a coup d'état attempt known as '23-F' took place in Spain. Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Tejero led 200 armed civil guards into the Spanish Congress, taking hostages. The coup attempt threatened the young Spanish democracy but was thwarted when King Juan Carlos I addressed the nation in support of the democratic government, reaffirming Spain's commitment to democracy.

On March 11, 2004, Spain experienced a series of coordinated bombings on the commuter train system in Madrid. The attacks killed 193 people and wounded around 2,000, marking the deadliest terrorist attack in Spanish history. The bombings were attributed to an al-Qaeda-inspired terrorist cell, significantly impacting Spanish politics and influencing the national elections that followed, resulting in a government change.