1. Chapter 16 Age of Absolutism
Section 1
Spanish Power Grows
Chapter 16 Age of Absolutism

2. Charles V Inherits Two Crowns
1500’s > Spain > 1st modern European power
Charles V ruler of
Spain
Habsburg empire?
Holy Roman Empire
Netherlands
Charles V faced constant warfare
Religious?
Protestants vs. Catholics
Ottoman Turks
Too much trouble > abdicates throne

4. Philip II Solidifies Power
Makes Spain foremost power in Europe
Hard working, devout, & ambitious
Absolute monarch?
Had complete authority over the govt.
Ruled by divine right
Created religious unity
Inquisition tried Protestants
Catholicism major religion

5. Battles Battle of Lepanto > Spain and Italy defeat Ottomans
Demonstration of Spain’s power
Conflict with Netherlands
Richest part of empire
Northern part of Netherlands (Protestants)
Primarily Dutch
Rebelled against inquisition
Eventually win independence

6. Armada Sails Against England
Queen Elizabeth I (Protestant) > seen as enemy
English ships attacking Spanish possession in the Americas
Prepare armada (fleet of ships) to attack England
Ultimately they fail. Why?
English ships lighter and faster
Defeat of armada marks the end of Spanish power
Expelling Jews & Muslims also leads to decline

7. Spain’s Golden Age “Golden Century” > 1550-1650
Arts and Literature flourished
Examples
El Greco > master of Spanish painting
Miguel de Cervantes > most important writer
Famous work > Don Quixote
Mocks Spain’s feudal past