Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
THE SPANISH HABSBURG DYNASTY, image, image - Coggle Diagram
THE SPANISH HABSBURG DYNASTY
THE RELIGIOUS WARS
In the 16th century, the Spanish Monarchy became the most powerful in Europe. Carlos V, or Carlos I of Spain, reigned from 1516 to 1556. His son Felipe II took over the throne from 1556 to 1598
Both monarchs belonged to the Habsburg dynasty. They attempted to exert absolute political authority over Europe and pursued similar political objectives:
To retain their territorial patrimony through numerous wars against other kingdoms
The riches obtained from the Americas were not sufficient to finance their foreign policies, so they became indebted to Italian and German bankers.
To defend Catholicism, they took measures to preserve religious unity both in their territories and the whole of Europe
Their domestic policy continued to be discriminatory
Those who questioned Catholicism were repressed and they published the Index of forbidden books
They also resorted to using the concept of limpieza de sangre' to prevent the conversos, who were the descendents of Jews and Muslims, from gaining access to public positions.
Outside Spain, they waged religiously motivated wars against the Protestant states.
Both monarchs maintained and expanded the administrative system established by the Catholic Monarchs, which consisted of different councils
ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IN THE 16TH CENTURY
The economy prospered due to the riches obtained from the Americas, especially silver and gold.
The port of Sevilla monopolised trade with the colonies through the Casa de Contratación. Consequently, the population increased and the cities grew
To protect the ships from pirate attacks, Felipe II organised a fleet system so the voyages between the Americas and Sevilla could be made in groups escorted by warships.
The arrival of precious metals on the Peninsula affected the Spanish Monarchy in the following ways:
It enabled the kings to finance the numerous wars they were involved in throughout Europe, meaning that the majority of this wealth ended up outside the Iberian Peninsula
The arrival of metals enriched the nobility. They used the silver and gold to buy luxury products, but did not invest in production (which would improve the economy and generate wealth). Therefore, the majority of the population became poorer.
The craft industry began to grow due to an increase in demand from the American territories. However, the rise in prices made Spanish products more expensive and it became cheaper to buy them abroad.
As they had more resources, the monarchs were able to begin more expensive projects. However, when these resources ran out they resorted to increasing taxes. These were collected from the peasants and the bourgeoisie, as the privileged classes (the nobility and the Church) did not have to pay them
The economy continued to be based on agriculture. This meant that the majority of the population became extremely vulnerable when harvests were bad
At the end of the 16th century, the Spanish economy went into decline
Only small local craft industries, which supplied the limited domestic demand, were able to survive. The major industries, such as the Castilian wool industry and the Crown of Aragón's textile industry, could not compete with those from abroad.
This fall in production also affected trade, as fewer raw materials were bought and sold and the number of products manufactured decreased.
This economic decline deeply affected society. The number of people who had to beg to survive increased and many joined the clergy to escape poverty.
