This comprehensive history of the Spanish Empire offers a detailed and engaging account of its rise to prominence in the Old World and the New. Merriman explores the political, economic, and cultural factors that contributed to the expansion of the empire, from the reign of Charles V to the conquest of the Americas. With its vivid storytelling and insightful analysis, this book is an essential resource for anyone interested in the history of Spain and the Americas. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.