Have people forgotten that Spain was once one of the greatest powers in history?

Question

Often when people talk about great powers, many logically talk about the UK, USA, China, France, Egypt etc. But Spain is rarely mentioned even though they literally had one of the greatest empires in history and owned large territories in Europe itself.

Nothing to do with that but I myself have Spanish origins through my grandparents, and I am surprised to see Spain not often mentioned.

For the anecdotes, the current King of Spain is descended from Louis XIV because at his time Louis XIV had put his grandson on the throne of the Spanish monarchy which caused a famous war, the war of succession of Spain.

Have people forgotten that Spain was once one of the greatest powers in history?

RavVid · Accepted Answer

Yes I think it has been largely forgotten that Spain was a great power and that the world was once divided between Spain and Portugal. Spain was the first ocean going European power and set the standard for others forming empires. With the silver mines in the new world it was extremely wealthy.

I am going to say Spain simply doesn't project itself as a significant country in the way Britain and France still do. EG. Boris Johnson's global Britain project. And that is why it is rarely referred to in the same way as France and Britain. US and China are global powers, maybe Russia too seeing it has nukes. I'm not seeing Egypt mentioned but Iran, North Korea are in local media. Turkey is a bit of a sleeper.

Spain is still one of the largest countries in terms of GDP. Spain sat out WWI & II so that could be another reason for no mentions. GlobalFirePower ranks Spain at #21 well below UK (#5) and France (#9). Even Australia is ranked higher at #18 and Australia has higher GDP and GDP per capita.

There's a rub. Canada is a very similar country to Australia and is bigger (but militarily is #27). It is odd to me, that in geopol discussions, I am now hearing Australia mentioned before Canada and I even heard an American refer to Australia as becoming a great power.

Now fresh after ANZAC day I will argue that Australia won WWI. Our Sir John Monash wasn't the first commander to be knighted on the battle field in 200 years for nothing. So we do have a military tradition. With China's power projection coming our way do I support our military build up? Certainly do.

Do I think that that American reference to Australia becoming a great power is accurate? Nope, I am highly uncomfortable with the concept. Any Australian gov't who started talking that way would soon be out of gov't. Collectively we'd think we would be putting a bulls eye on our back.

Maybe the Spanish people are similarly uncomfortable, in a way French and British people aren't? I know nothing, just suspecting... but a little more on that line...

After the War of Spanish Succession, the Grand Alliance opponents must have been looking for signs of collusion and France and Spain would have known that - presumably avoiding any hint of something different. Certainly Spain was quiet thereafter. After the peace in 1713/14/15 there was less than 100 years till the Napoleonic era and the guerrilla warfare in Spain during it.

So I could see that knocking out any Spanish desires for top billing.

lightbulb27 · Accepted Answer

Yes Spain, I gained more passion for them back when I saw Miguel Indurain attacking the climbs in the Tour De France!! Exciting, and we are hading there this year... to the Alps! I don't understand the Catalonia/Spain conflict, I think it's cultural and an old conflict. They sure make some good ham though!

I was terrible in history in HS as it was taught "date" in a boring book, and not how I learned best. I did love my teacher, one of the most memorable, Mr. Jones is missed.

I learned a lot on my own and way I learned it is by looking at wealth and power as I examined finances, currency, and wars. Whomever held the reserve currency by way of the stronger Navy, was the world power. That was Spain at one point. That baton was passed over time.. from Portugal, to Spain to France, to England and now the USA post WWII and directionally east to... China/BRICS, possibly, probably.

USA is fading, we should all learn the history so we see where we are going and reverse course. My one caveat is democraphics... needs a hard look.

When there is a transition of money power, there are big fights... ships sink, there are wars! Soldiers are sacrificed, innocent die, so that others can hold onto what they think they have. Let's hope we do better, but that is what is going on... a transfer of power. The Gold is flowing east, power is flowing east. The USA is held up by it's strong military for now, but for how long. China, fortunately, is a passive personality that doesn't like to fight... they will rattle the saber, but will they use it and when? Will they be baited into a fight? I think they won't have to as the paper tiger falls over, over time...

Ray Dalio is a good one to listen to and read...

We enjoyed going to Spain last year, Barcelona and Portugal. Very impressed with Portugal at the time. Some very strange dudes in Spain dressed in all white milking money from people:) Otherwise, enjoyed architecture and area.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

People forget that Portugal was one of the greatest empires in the world also. The Portuguese were said to be preparing a voyage to the new world before columbus. In the end the spainish and Portuguese divided the world between each other east and west. The Knight's templar settled there after their dissolution calling themselves the Knight's of christ. They became a huge maritime empire exploring Africa, the Middle east and India fighting Muslim forces. The explored China and Japan. They were the first colonisers of India and last to leave in the 1960s

midnightmoon05 · Accepted Answer

Spain and Portugal was once a very powerful country. I know a little bit about it.

NathanDavis · Answer

well... there is at least 20 countries, and at least half a billion people that do talk about Spain being once a superpower

they say it in Spanish though... because that's perhaps the greatest mark that Hispania (Iberia... or whatever other name you like) has left on this world, one of the most beautiful languages on this earth

Anonymous · Answer

There's and old saying "the Victor's write the history books". I'm no history expert but considering I'm of WASP descent I was always taught the end of Spain as a player on the world stage came with the defeat of the Spanish armada by the English in 1588. It does make me wonder how the Spanish view this. Also the religious fanaticism of Spain probably didn't help thier cause.

Anonymous · Answer

There's nothing to be proud of , Spanish people looted , destroyed , killed one whole continent of people and it's ecosystems. They were way bad than others of European descendents. They destroyed the whole culture of South America , it's language , religion , food practices and replaced it with their own. Plus had a large history of piracy.

exitseven · Answer

The Spanish Armada would have beat Great Britain except it got caught in some severe storms.

RyanEC · Answer

I think it is mentioned less because it’s height didn’t last very long as I understand. Maybe from 1492 until maybe 1600 when It declined.

DarkLegacy · Answer

Not as powerful as Portugal once was.

Wise4myage · Answer

Not me, because I love history.

Erron_Black · Answer

big colony empire :D

roy_ricky09 · Answer

Who cares!

Have people forgotten that Spain was once one of the greatest powers in history?

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