Spain’s Empire & European Absolutism
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Transcript of Spain’s Empire & European Absolutism
Spain’s Empire & European Absolutism
I. Absolutism in Europe
one ruler should hold ALL the power Absolute monarchs (kings or queens)
Divine right Decline of feudalism, rise of cities & kingdoms Backed by middle class Used wealth of colonies (17th cent.) Regulated everything Goal: free themselves from limitations imposed by nobility
& by representative bodies
II. Absolutism in Spain
A. Charles V Member of Hapsburgs (German) 1516: inherited Spain & possessions 1519: elected Holy Roman emperor 1521: Edict of Worms (Martin Luther) 1529: drove Ottomans from Vienna 1555: Peace of Augsburg Spanish holdings were too vast for one ruler
1556: gave up throne, divided lands among family Phillip II – Spain & Amer. possessions Ferdinand I – Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V retired to monastery (d. 1558)
B. Philip II
Born & educated in Spain (d. 1598) Worked long hours, devout Catholic 1580: claimed Port. & holdings Empire provided tremendous wealth
By 1600: Amer. mines = 339,000 pounds of gold Betw. 1550-1650: 16,000 tons of silver bullion King of Spain claimed 20-25%
Made central govt. responsible only to him
Built El Escorial (royal palace) Religious wars (must defend Catholicism!)
1571: Spanish & Venetian shipsdefeated Ottoman fleet (Battle of Lepanto)
1588: Spanish Armada to punish
England (Prots)---FAILURE!
III. The Spanish Empire Weakens
Amer. wealth caused long-term economic problems
A. Inflation & Taxes
Inflation: decline in value of $, accompanied by a rise in prices of goods
2 Causes: 1. growing pop. (more demand for food & goods) 2. abundance of silver (value went down)
Other causes of economic probs. 1. 1500: Spain expelled artisans & business people (Jews
& Muslims) 2. Nobles did not pay taxes (lower classes taxed more) 3. outdated manufacturing techniques = expensive goods—
looked elsewhere (favorable balance of trade?) 4. borrowed $ from German & Italian bankers to finance
wars
B. The Dutch Rebellion
Spanish Netherlands (paid army to control) Dutch had little in common w/Spanish rulers
Spain = Catholic Dutch = Calvinists Dutch had strong middle class
Philip’s 3 Errors that led to Dutch rebellion: 1. ignored self-rule in Neth. (HE was the ruler,
NOT local nobles!) 2. taxed the Neth’s. trade heavily 3. persecuted the Calvinists
1568: William the Silent led Dutch revolt Relied on guerilla warfare Philip sent the Spanish Duke of Alva
1579: Northern Neth. declared independence 1609-1621: 12 yr. truce 1621-1648: Northern Neth. won independence
Spain won loyalty of southern provinces
IV. The Dutch Prosper
Dutch dominated Euro. commerce/trade—North Sea
Amsterdam = world financial center Only Calvinists could hold office Neth. different from other Euros.
1. religious toleration 2. republic, NOT a kingdom
Stability of govt. allowed great economic growth
A. Dutch Art
1600s: Neth. = Florence (1400s) Best banks & artists in Euro.
Rembrandt van Rijn Portraits of wealthy middle-class merchants The Night Watch
Jan Vermeer Domestic, indoor settings The Astronomer The Geographer