The invariant conquest of Granada was, in the same year, followed by the more important discovery of America by Christopher Columbus; which, with its subsequent conquest, redounded more to the glory and fame of Isabella than any other act of her reign; and as she consented to defray the whole expense of the expedition, without the concurrence of Ferdinand, she reserved for her subjects of Castile exclusively all the advantages resulting from such an undertaking.
Upon the death of Isabella, the archduke Philip, king of the Netherlands, who had married her daugh ter Joanna, a princess of very slender capacity, claimed the crown of Castile in right of his wife. Ferdinand, who, by the will of his queen, had been appointed re gent of the kingdom till her grandson Don Carlos should attain the age of twenty, found it prudent to resign the regency and retire to his own dominions of Aragon. The reign of Philip, however, was short and turbulent. He disgusted the nobility by his great partiality to his Flemish favourites, upon whom he bestowed all places of trust and emolument; and also by his cruelty to his queen, whom he wished to deprive of the government, and to confine as a deranged per son. This conduct spread universal discontent, the consequences of which were averted only by his death, which happened about seven months after his arrival in Spain. The affairs of Castile were thus thrown into great confusion, and the states, in order to maintain the tranquillity of the kingdom, invited Ferdinand to resume the regency, which he held until his death in 1515.
This monarch was one of the greatest princes that ever ruled in Spain, and possessed in a very high de gree the love and affection of his people, who lamented his loss with unfeigned sorrow; and called him with great justice, their father and deliverer. lie bequeath ed his hereditary dominions, and also the kingdoms of Naples and Navarre, which he obtained by con quest, to Joanna queen of Castile, and after her to his grandson Carlos. He appointed Cardinal Xi menes, archbishop of Toledo, regent of Castile; and bestowed the regency of Aragon and its dependencies upon his natural son Don Alonzo, archbishop of Sar agossa.
could scarcely have been expected that during this period, when the Peninsula was di vided into small kingdoms without frontiers and guaranty; and governed by sovereigns of different nations and religions, who were almost continually at war with each other, much attention would be devot ed to its agricultural and commercial interests. Yet that portion of it which was subject to the Moors, en joyed a degree of prosperity and civilization, unex ampled in Spain during any other period of its histo ry. This people were particularly skilled in agricul ture, and carried every branch of public and private economy to a high degree of perfection. They paid the most minute attention to the analysis, classifica tion, and manure of the different soils, to rustic build ings, plantations, and agricultural implements, and to the care of animals. They divided their lands into
small fields, which were kept constantly under tillage, and by their reservoirs and canals, they conveyed wa ter to the highest and driest spots. They were the first who introduced into this country the cultivation of rice, sugar, cotton, and silk; and the general ap pearance of their estates formed a striking contrast to the domains of the crown, and the immense wastes of the Gothic lords. They were also expert in all the mechanical arts; and in almost every city were estab lished looms, forges, mills, glass-houses, &c. The invention of paper is due to this people; and many kinds of manufactures, particularly silk and cotton stuffs, morocco leather, &c. were brought by them to so great perfection, that, in the twelfth century, the tissues of Granada and Andalusia were highly prized at Constantinople and throughout the Eastern em pire. Their skill in architecture was equally con spicuous; and the .11hanibra of Granada. still in exist ence, is an evidence of the fine taste, studied elegance, and ability of their artists. To this improved state of industry the Moors added the love of science and learning. These they introduced into Europe at a time when it was immersed in darkness; and they possessed many luxuries unknown to the neighbouring nations. "The successors of Ahdalrahman had form ed a library of 600,000 volumes, 44 of which were employed in the mere catalogue. Their capital of Cordova, with the adjacent towns of Malaga, Alme ria, and Murcia, had given birth to more than 300 writers; and above 70 public libraries were opened in the cities of the Andalusian kingdom." The Arab historians describe the reign of the Ommiades as the most splendid and prosperous era of Moorish Spain. third of the Abdalrahmans derived from this kingdom the annual tribute of 12,045,000 dinars or pieces of gold, about six millions Sterling, his royal seat at Cordova contained 640 mosques, 900 baths, 200,000 houses; he gave laws to 80 cities of the first,. to 300 of the second and third order; and the fertile banks of the Guadalquivir were adorned with villages and hamlets, The inmates of his seraglio, comprehending his wives, concubines, and black eunuchs, amounted to 6300 persons; and he was at tended to the field by a guard of 12,000 horse, whose belts and scimitars were studded with gold." To this extraordinary concurrence of industry, wealth, talents, and learning, this people united that roman tic gallantry which so eminently prevailed in the ages of chivalry; and their noble conduct in many instances, inspired with confidence in their honour, even the enemies of their kingdom and of their faith.