Spain’s Empire and Spain’s Empire and European AbsolutismEuropean Absolutism

Chapter 21, Section 1Chapter 21, Section 1

Section OpenerSection Opener

During a time of During a time of religious and religious and economic economic instability, Philip II instability, Philip II rules Spain with a rules Spain with a strong hand.strong hand.

Philip II of Spain

May 21 1527 - September 13 1598

A Powerful Spanish EmpireA Powerful Spanish Empire

A New Spanish RulerA New Spanish Ruler– In 1556, Philip II begins ruling Spain and In 1556, Philip II begins ruling Spain and

its possessionsits possessions Philip II’s EmpirePhilip II’s Empire

– Philip seizes Portugal in 1580Philip seizes Portugal in 1580– Gold and silver from Americas make Gold and silver from Americas make

Spain extremely wealthySpain extremely wealthy

• By Philip’s time, Spain is raking in massive amounts of gold and silver.

• By around 1600 (shortly after his death) to 1650, Spain had taken in 339,000 pounds of gold and 16,000 tons of silver and the king took 25-33% of it.

• That’s a lot of bling. Yo.

Philip’s palace, Escorial

A Powerful Spanish EmpireA Powerful Spanish Empire

Defender of CatholicismDefender of Catholicism– Philip defends Catholicism against Philip defends Catholicism against

Muslims and ProtestantsMuslims and Protestants– Spanish fleet helps defeat Ottomans at Spanish fleet helps defeat Ottomans at

Lepanto in 1571.Lepanto in 1571.– Spanish Armada is defeated by the Spanish Armada is defeated by the

British in 1588 (more on that later).British in 1588 (more on that later).

Golden Age of Spanish Art and Golden Age of Spanish Art and LiteratureLiterature

El Greco and VelEl Greco and Velázquezázquez– El Greco uses unusual style to convey El Greco uses unusual style to convey

religious themesreligious themes– Works of Works of VelVelázquez show Spanish court lifeázquez show Spanish court life

Don QuixoteDon Quixote– In 1605, Don Quixote by Miguel de In 1605, Don Quixote by Miguel de

Cervantes is publishedCervantes is published– Novel marks the birth of the modern Novel marks the birth of the modern

European novel.European novel.

““Portrait of an Old Man”Portrait of an Old Man”

This painting titled This painting titled “Portrait of an Old “Portrait of an Old Man” is considered Man” is considered a self portrait by El a self portrait by El Greco, circa 1595–Greco, circa 1595–1600, oil on 1600, oil on canvas.canvas.

The Assumption of the The Assumption of the VirginVirgin (1577–1579, oil (1577–1579, oil on canvas, 401 × 228 on canvas, 401 × 228 cm, Art Institute of cm, Art Institute of Chicago) was one of the Chicago) was one of the nine paintings El Greco nine paintings El Greco completed for the completed for the church of Santo church of Santo Domingo el Antiguo in Domingo el Antiguo in Toledo, his first Toledo, his first commission in Spain. commission in Spain. This shows the religious This shows the religious themes of his painting. themes of his painting.

Diego Velázquez: two self Diego Velázquez: two self portraitsportraits

Portrait of Pablo de Portrait of Pablo de ValladolidValladolid– A court fool or A court fool or

jester, circa 1635jester, circa 1635

The Spanish Empire The Spanish Empire WeakensWeakens

Inflation and TaxesInflation and Taxes– Inflation (due to the huge influx of American gold and Inflation (due to the huge influx of American gold and

silver) weakens Spain’s economy.silver) weakens Spain’s economy.– Taxes on lower class prevents development of middle Taxes on lower class prevents development of middle

class.class. Making Spain’s Enemies RichMaking Spain’s Enemies Rich

– Spaniards buy goods abroad, making Spain’s enemies Spaniards buy goods abroad, making Spain’s enemies rich.rich.

– Philip declares bankruptcy three times due to weak Philip declares bankruptcy three times due to weak economy.economy.

The Dutch RevoltThe Dutch Revolt Protestants in the Netherlands win independence from Spain in Protestants in the Netherlands win independence from Spain in

1579.1579. The Defeat of the Spanish Armada at the hands The Defeat of the Spanish Armada at the hands

of England in 1588.of England in 1588.

• Lepanto was the good naval battle. The Spanish Armada, aka The Invincible Armada, was the bad one, in 1588.• Philip is motivated to restore Roman Catholicism to

England against Elizabeth (who was Phillip’s sister-in-law since he was married to Bloody Mary).

• He’s also put out at English support of the rebellious Dutch in the Netherlands and the fact that Elizabeth had commissioned Sir Francis Drake as a privateer who raided Spanish treasure ships.

• Phillip even put a bounty of what would be about $10 million on Drake’s head.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMpigAUQt_4

• “I, too, can command the wind sir!”

Fate of the Spanish Armada• He sends a fleet of 133 ships to attack and conquer

England. The English fight back in the English Channel with superior longer range canons and more maneuverable ships.

• That was after they sailed fire ships into the Spanish lines in order to break their formation.

• The English also had better gunnery. The Spanish guns weren’t as good (and many had the wrong ammo) and the gunners not well trained.

• That and the Spanish were planning on boarding the English ships and fighting hand-to-hand. The English wouldn’t allow that. The English pound the Spanish who retreat. The Spanish then keep encountering bad weather and more ships are lost.

• Ultimately, 15,000 Spanish sailors are killed and nearly half the fleet lost.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39fmG1IGjjc

• The battle also occasioned one of Elizabeth’s most famous speech’s when she visited the troops:

• “I have come amongst you as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved in the midst and heat of the battle to live or die amongst you all, to lay down for my God and for my kingdom, and for my people, my honor and my blood, even in the dust. I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too.”

• Do you think Elizabeth I had the makings of a good monarch???

• The Dutch revolt in the 1560’s and 1570’s.

• They had been under Spanish rule but resented it, especially since they were protestant and quite religiously tolerant.

• The Dutch succeed in part because they had funding from Queen Elizabeth I of England

"Queen Elizabeth I Feeds the Dutch Cow", a satirical Flemish painting, c. "Queen Elizabeth I Feeds the Dutch Cow", a satirical Flemish painting, c. 1586. The cow represents the Dutch provinces. King Philip II of Spain is vainly 1586. The cow represents the Dutch provinces. King Philip II of Spain is vainly trying to ride the cow, drawing blood with his spurs. Queen Elizabeth is trying to ride the cow, drawing blood with his spurs. Queen Elizabeth is feeding it while William of Orange holds it steady by the horns. The cow is feeding it while William of Orange holds it steady by the horns. The cow is defecating on the Duke of Anjou, who is holding its tail - a reference to defecating on the Duke of Anjou, who is holding its tail - a reference to Anjou's fiasco at the "French Fury" in Antwerp, three years previously Anjou's fiasco at the "French Fury" in Antwerp, three years previously

The Independent Dutch The Independent Dutch ProsperProsper

A Different SocietyA Different Society– The Netherlands is a republic and The Netherlands is a republic and

practices religious toleration.practices religious toleration. Dutch ArtDutch Art

– In the 1600s, the Netherlands becomes In the 1600s, the Netherlands becomes center of European Artcenter of European Art

– Rembrandt and Vermeer are famous Rembrandt and Vermeer are famous Dutch PaintersDutch Painters

RembrandtRembrandt

Self Self portraitportrait

Christ in the Christ in the Storm on the Storm on the Lake of GalileeLake of Galilee by Rembrandt, by Rembrandt, circa 1633. This circa 1633. This original painting original painting was stolen in was stolen in 1990 and was 1990 and was never recovered.never recovered.

Paintings by VermeerPaintings by Vermeer

Vermeer painted Vermeer painted scenes from every scenes from every day life. This day life. This painting painting MilkmaidMilkmaid, , is circa 1658-1660.is circa 1658-1660.

Paintings by VermeerPaintings by Vermeer

Officer Laughing Officer Laughing With GirlWith Girl, is circa , is circa 1657-1659.1657-1659.

Paintings by VermeerPaintings by Vermeer

The Little StreetThe Little Street, is , is circa 1657-1658.circa 1657-1658.

The Independent Dutch The Independent Dutch ProsperProsper

Dutch Trading EmpireDutch Trading Empire– Dutch merchants engage in world tradeDutch merchants engage in world trade– Dutch have world’s largest trading fleetDutch have world’s largest trading fleet– Dutch people replace Italians as Dutch people replace Italians as

Europe’s bankersEurope’s bankers

Absolutism in EuropeAbsolutism in Europe The Theory of AbsolutismThe Theory of Absolutism

– Rulers want to be absolute monarchs—rulers with Rulers want to be absolute monarchs—rulers with complete powercomplete power

– Believe in “divine right”—idea that monarchs Believe in “divine right”—idea that monarchs represent God on earth. (The idea can be derived from represent God on earth. (The idea can be derived from Romans 13: 1-4.).)

Growing Power of Europe’s MonarchsGrowing Power of Europe’s Monarchs– Decline of Feudalism, rise of cities help monarchs gain Decline of Feudalism, rise of cities help monarchs gain

powerpower– Decline of Church authority also increases powerDecline of Church authority also increases power

Crises Lead to AbsolutismCrises Lead to Absolutism– The 17The 17thth century is a period of great upheaval century is a period of great upheaval– Monarchs impose order by increasing their own power.Monarchs impose order by increasing their own power.

Possible Basis ofPossible Basis of“Divine Right of Kings”“Divine Right of Kings”

Romans 13:1-4Romans 13:1-4 ” ”Let every person be subject to the governing Let every person be subject to the governing

authorities. For there is no authority except from authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.”who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.”