How big was the Spanish Empire?

At its peak in the 16th and 17th centuries, the Spanish Empire was the largest empire in the world. It spanned over 20 million square kilometers (7.7 million square miles) and had a population of over 100 million people. The empire included territories in Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia.

In Europe, the Spanish Empire controlled Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, and parts of Italy and France. In the Americas, the empire included Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean islands. In Africa, the empire controlled parts of North Africa, West Africa, and Central Africa. In Asia, the empire controlled the Philippines and Guam.

The Spanish Empire was built on a foundation of conquest and colonization. Spanish explorers and conquistadors traveled the world in search of new lands to claim for Spain. They often used violence and force to subdue the indigenous peoples of the lands they conquered. The Spanish also established colonies in the Americas and elsewhere, where they imposed their language, culture, and religion on the local populations.

The Spanish Empire was a major power in the world for several centuries. It played a significant role in the Age of Exploration, the development of the global economy, and the spread of Christianity. However, the empire began to decline in the 18th and 19th centuries. It lost many of its territories in the Americas and elsewhere, and it was eventually replaced by the United States as the dominant power in the world.