Spain's Golden Age and Dusk

Rise (1469-1521): The two Catholic kings united Spain through marriage, regained lost territory, and Columbus embarked on his great voyage. The protagonist's grandparents are involved, and the family has changed from a declining aristocracy to an adventurous upstart. Peak (1521-1588): Carlos I established the "Empire on which the Sun Never Sets", American gold and silver poured in, and literature and art were dazzling (Cervantes, Velázquez). The protagonist reaches the peak of his life here, experiencing glory and shadow. Turning point (1588-1648): The destruction of the Armada, the Dutch War of Independence, and the economy was gradually dragged down by inflation. The protagonist suffers a major setback in middle age and witnesses the cracks in the empire. Decline (1648-1700): Loss of the Thirty Years' War, War of Succession, disintegration of the empire. In his later years, the protagonist looks back on his life with humor and openness, and the fate of his family resonates with the rise and fall of the country.