Spanish Empire vs. Russian Empire

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European Empire vs. Russian Empire An empire is defined as a land with different territories and people under a single ruler. It involves the extension of a state’s sovereignty over external territories and is based on the extent, population, economy and duration of rule. During the Early Modern Era, powerful empires began to emerge and produced a powerful impact on the way the world was shaped. Within each empire, tremendous transformations took place. Old ways were dismantled and new societies arose. With the birth of these new empires came globalization. Worldwide integration of trade, technology and culture had developed. People from the Americas, Africa and Europe came together for the first time in world history. Included in this elite list of empires were the dominant European Empire and the robust Russian Empire. The immense similarities along with the vast differences between the European and the Russian Empires are extremely engaging and influential in the ever-present trend of globalization. The Europeans started their globalization in 1492 when they first landed in the Americas. Columbus’ new found land stirred a frenzy of activity in the new world, including exploration, conquest and ultimately colonization. The speed of Spanish expansion over the region was astonishing. By 1515 the islands of the Caribbean were completely under Spanish control and became the launching pad for future adventures. The Spanish efforts eventually took over the vast land where millions of Incan and Aztec peoples lived. By the 17th century, the Spanish Monarch controlled the empire of unprecedented geographic spread in the Americas. Similarly Vasco da Gama ventured south and east of Portugal and reached India in 1498. The Portuguese also established themselves on the coast of Brazil. Rulers within the European states grew competitive, motivating further

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