Isabella is celebrated for sponsoring Christopher Columbus's expedition to the Americas in 1492, which led to the European exploration and eventual colonization of the New World. She is also remembered as a patron of the arts and learning, and for her support of religious orders, including the establishment of the Spanish Inquisition, with which she hoped to preserve orthodoxy.
Here are some of Isabella's most notable contributions:
* Unified Spain: Isabella and her husband, Ferdinand, united the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon through their marriage in 1469. This created a single, unified kingdom that would become known as Spain.
* Reconquista: Isabella played a key role in the Reconquista, the campaign by Christian forces to retake Spain from Muslim rule. She supported her husband in the conquest of Granada, the last Muslim stronghold in Spain, in 1492.
* Patron of the Arts and Learning: Isabella was a great patron of the arts and learning. She established the Royal Library of Spain, which became one of the most important libraries in Europe. She also supported artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
* Establishment of the Spanish Inquisition: Isabella was a devout Catholic and she worked to ensure that Spain remained a Catholic country. She supported the establishment of the Spanish Inquisition, which aimed to suppress heresy and protect the Catholic Church from outside influence.
* Sponsorship of Columbus's Voyage: Isabella is perhaps best known for sponsoring Christopher Columbus's voyage to the Americas in 1492. Columbus's expedition led to the discovery of the Americas, which would have a profound impact on Europe and the world.
Isabella was a powerful and influential ruler who left a lasting legacy on Spain. She helped to create a unified, powerful nation and she promoted the arts, learning, and religion. Her reign marked the beginning of a new era in Spanish history.