Isabel of Castile and the making of the Spanish nation, 1451-1504

"Isabel of Castile and the Making of the Spanish Nation, 1451-1504" by Ierne L. Plunket is a historical exploration from the early 1900s that tells the story of Isabel of Castile, a key person in Spain's history, whose time as queen greatly helped create the country of Spain and make it a strong force in Europe. The book looks at her smart political moves, her marriage to Ferdinand of Aragon, and how her choices affected Spain during a time of big change. The book starts by showing Isabel's complicated personality, talking about how she's remembered as both a smart leader but also someone who made tough decisions because of her strong religious beliefs and role in the Spanish Inquisition. Plunket talks about how people both respected Isabel's accomplishments, like uniting Spain and supporting Columbus's voyages, but also disliked her strict ways of keeping control and stopping people from disagreeing with her. The story prepares us to learn more about the political situation in Castile in the 1400s, showing the difficulties Isabel faced as she took power and how society shaped her time as queen.