Spain: History

1492 Christopher Columbus arrives in the Americas, commencing a period of conquest throughout South and Central America. The acquisition of these lands helps Spain to become the prominent power in Europe throughout the 16th and 17th centuries.

1807

French troops led by Napoleon occupy Spain until Nationalist resistance, along with the British intervention, force French troops out in 1814. The French occupation rendered Spain both politically and economically unstable.

1898

Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines are lost after a Spanish defeat in the Spanish-American War. Spain no longer controls any colonies in Latin America.

1914-1918 Spain becomes one of the largest suppliers of foodstuffs and raw materials during World War I, resulting in a massive trade boom for the nation.

1939 Francisco Franco leads Spanish Nationalists to victory in the Spanish Civil War. Spain's economy is devastated as a result of the war and Franco's economic policy of self-sufficiency, which cut off international trade.

Late 1950s

Spain's manufacturing and tourism industries expand rapidly as a result of state controls being lifted.

1986

Spain joins the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union.

2002 The peseta is replaced by the euro as Spain's currency.

2010

Spain's unemployment rate soars to over 20%, prompting parliament to approve a 15 billion-euro austerity package.

2013

Spain's unemployment rate soars to a new record of 27.2% of the workforce in the first quarter, passing the six million figure, although the rate of increase slows.

2017

Madrid imposes direct rule in Catalonia after voters in a referendum back separation from Spain.

2020

Pedro Sánchez forms minority coalition government with left-wing Podemos party after winning a narrow parliamentary vote of confidence.