How Spain Became a World Power: Review of Kamen's Empire

Introduction: Spain Before Its Imperial Rise

Before Spain achieved superpower status, it was a somewhat isolated country, largely removed from the broader currents of European politics and commerce. How, then, did it become one of the world's first superpowers? Henry Kamen, in his book Empire: How Spain Became a World Power, 1492–1763, attempts to answer precisely this question.

Spain in the Middle Ages was a sophisticated land shaped by both magnificent Islamic culture and the largest Jewish population in all of Europe. The Iberian Peninsula — now home to Spain and Portugal — was divided between Christian and Muslim states, yet there were periods of peace during which people exchanged traditions and engaged with cultural differences. In his book, Kamen recreates the world of imperial Spain, from the capture of Moorish Granada at its outset to the empire's vast expansion into Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and eventually the frontiers of Texas and California in North America.

Kamen's Central Argument and Thesis

Kamen's book reads as somewhat revisionist in its collection of arguments. Without committing firmly to a single overarching position, Kamen contends that the Spanish Empire was more a random collection of territories passed down through generations than a coherent, strong political unit. Because of this, the empire was not as formidable as the world once believed. Kamen argues that Spain was not truly responsible for running its own empire — rather, it was foreigners who did so. In his view, it would have been impossible for Spain to manage its own empire independently, given that the country was relatively poor and behind the times in more than a few respects.

Author's Purpose, Goals, and Key Themes

Kamen highlights in his book the great importance of globalization, tracing the concept as far back as the Spanish Empire of the 16th and 17th centuries. Examining this Golden Age in Spain's history, Kamen recounts how the empire spread from Europe to Asia, Africa, and North America. He demonstrates, with considerable ease, that Spain was remarkable for its ability to function as a multinational entity. While other similar empires have existed, the Spanish Empire was particularly distinctive, lending new historical depth to the concept of globalization as we understand it today.

The author's goals appear to be to educate scholars and students about these pivotal centuries in European history — what they meant for Spain, for the wider world, and what they signify today in the context of globalization. Kamen argues that Spain was not entirely responsible for its own greatness. Although it was considered a world power, Spain relied heavily on the help of other nations in administering its conquests. It needed the resources of the very territories it controlled — Italy and parts of North America, for example. In this way, Kamen suggests that Spain's empire was not wholly original or singularly impressive, a conclusion that has not sat well with Spanish scholars. His overarching goal is to demonstrate that whether Spain was at peace or at war with its territories, it desperately depended on the assistance of others.

Kamen also raises questions about the role of Spanish patriotism in the empire's workings. He inquires into the roles of Black Africans and indigenous peoples of the Americas and how they contributed to the formation of colonial society.

References

Cooper, F. (2004a). Comparative studies in society and history. Society for Comparative Study of Society and History, 46, 247–272.

Cooper, F. (2004b). Empire multiplies: A review essay. Comparative Studies in Society and History.

Kamen, H. (2004). Empire: How Spain became a world power, 1492–1763. Perennial.