History of Ferdinand and Isabella
Uploaded by srheric on Apr 23, 2007
History of Ferdinand and Isabella
King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile were both important rulers during the Renaissance. They both ruled during a time in which change was constant. Things were being rediscovered and improved to become more efficient. These two rulers also partook in this movement for change. They improved their country in several ways, including the establishment of justice, and regulation of trade. These things improved their country dramatically, opening it up to endless possibilities of growth, which emulates what the Renaissance was all about.
The rule prior to Ferdinand and Isabella lacked strength, leaving them with a lot of work. The first point of emphasis they focused on was establishing justice, and reforming laws in a country that was at a stage of anarchy. There were laws in Spain but there was no one to enforce them. Ferdinand and Isabella appointed two thousand men, forming a national police force, to rid the country of chaos. These police were more like a military, and they successfully ended the reign of criminals across the countryside (Blacker53).
These rulers were so effective because they sought out their orders themselves, instead of passing them on to others. This method proved quite effective for them. Ferdinand and Isabella were rulers of the people. When the people became upset, they would listen with open ears. At one point a mob of people came near her home to protest an injustice that occurred. Isabella heard the concerns of her people, about a powerful man’s decision, and was not hesitant in acting upon them. Those who were influential would not hinder justice under the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. They stood for what was right and would not allow it to be compromised (Blacker55).
The intention to establish justice was somewhat lost in a well-known phase of their reign, called the Spanish Inquisition. Isabella was a devout Catholic that had no tolerance for non-believers. Most people were of the Catholic denomination but there were two groups that were not, the Moors and the Jews. The Jews were very important to Spain. They were hard workers and made up most of the middle class. They flourished in occupations such as doctors and lawyers. These Jewish people had...