In this gallery of seven maps, we examine the vast overseas territories of the Spanish Empire from the late 15th century to the 19th century. The empire reached its height during the Age of Exploration and included regions in the Americas, Asia, Africa, and the Pacific.
Spanish explorers, missionaries, and conquistadors played pivotal roles in the expansion of the empire, leading to the destruction of indigenous cultures and bringing Spanish culture, language, and governance to many diverse parts of the world. This colonization then triggered a complex interplay of economic exploitation and geopolitical influence, forging connections across continents that still endure today.
