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Spain's history is marked by significant transformations. The Middle Ages saw the Iberian Peninsula under Muslim control, with the subsequent Christian reconquest giving rise to the unified concept of Spain. This period fostered the rise of the Spanish Empire, which became notorious for its brutal colonization of the Americas.
The defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 marked the beginning of Spain's decline. As the empire crumbled, competing European powers outstripped Spain in scientific and military capabilities. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Spain lost most of its colonies, suffering a further blow in the Spanish-American War, leading to the loss of the Philippines, Cuba, and Puerto Rico.