Spanish Institutions of the Southwest

the condition of Spain at the time of the conquest and settlement of America. CHAPTER III. The Condition Op Spain During The Conquest And Settlement Of America. Despite the show of freedom in the communities of Spain, and the representation in the Cortes of privileged towns by deputies, feudalism finally obtained complete domination, and prevailed during and after the rise of Christian Spain through the successful struggle against the Saracens. But the tide of centralization set in as the people began to fight a common enemy and to espouse the cause of a universal religion. Out of the many kingdoms of Spain there came finally, by a series of progressive changes, one that was stronger and better than the rest; and it formed a nucleus for the foundation of the nation. The reign of Ferdinand and Isabella marks the origin of the modern nation, -and the first part of a period of centralized government. It was during this period that feudalism declined, and the old absolutism of the central power was revived.1 Prior to this, the time-honored rights of the people had mostly disappeared; and the whole Spanish nation lapsed into lords and vassals. If a town occasionally retained its early rights, they were so overshadowed by the forms of feudal society that they amounted to a mere show of civil liberty. Through the union of Castile and Leon by a fortuitous marriage and the inheritance of Aragon, the Spanish sovereigns became possessed of a large territory ; and this was...