Spain

The year is 1492, and The Kingdoms of Castile and Aragon stand at a precipice. By the marriage of the Catholic Monarchs, and the conclusion of the Reconquista, the Iberian Peninsula is more united than ever before.

Yet beneath this newfound unity lies uncertainty. With the end of the War of the Castilian Succession the Treaty of Alcáçovas, has confirmed our dominance within Iberia but at the expense of Portuguese supremacy over much of the Atlantic and the lucrative African trade routes. Gold, ivory, spices, and other exotic goods now flow steadily into Lisbon, enriching the Portuguese Crown, Castilian merchants and nobles look on with growing envy and frustration. And to the east, the Venetians and Genoese continue to dominate Mediterranean commerce through their trade networks in Alexandria, controlling Europe’s access to the wealth of Asia and leaving the crowns of Iberia dependent upon foreign middlemen.

Even still, Across the Pyrenees, the Kingdom of France continues its steady centralization after the devastation of the Hundred Years’ War. Their monarchy grows stronger with each passing decade, positioning themselves as one of the dominant powers of Western Europe. Meanwhile, across the Channel, England has concluded the War of the Roses and now seeks to contest our limited influence in the Atlantic. If Castile and Aragon are to compete with these rising powers, we must discover a new path.

Within the Cortes, a fierce debate now unfolds over the future of the Catholic Monarchy. Merchants, and clergy, navigators, and nobles, all seek to influence the direction of the crown as the prospect of western exploration grows ever more enticing. Will the Crowns of Castile and Aragon stand by, and allow their rivals to dominate the coming Age of Exploration? Or will they seize this opportunity to usher in a new Spanish Golden Age?

Crisis Director

Rules and Procedure

This committee follows parliamentary procedure as defined in our Crisis Committee Parley Pro Document. However, procedure during committee may be modified at the Moderator’s discretion.

Position Paper

All delegates wishing to be considered for an award must submit a position paper before the start of conference. Position paper quality will be included in consideration of awards, however paper quality will not hold as much weight in award consideration as actual committee performance. Position papers are meant to ensure a basis for delegate research and help delegates feel confident while participating during the conference.

Detailed instructions for writing and submitting Position Papers can be found in the Position Paper Guidelines Document.

Questions

If you have questions about committee content or the format of your committee, please contact your Crisis Director at contact@ctmun.org with “Spain” in the subject line.

For questions about CTMUN conference and logistics, please contact contact@ctmun.org.