1. Spain’s Empire and European Absolutism

2. Main Ideas
During a time of religious and economic instability, Philip II ruled Spain with a strong hand.
When faced with crises, many heads of government take on additional economic or political powers.

3. Introduction
Charles V became the Holy Roman Emperor in 1519 and ruled much of Germany.
The first time since the late 700s that a European ruler controlled so much territory.

4. A Powerful Spanish Empire
Charles V (King of the Holy Roman Empire) retired in 1556 and divided his land.
Gave his brother, Ferdinand, Austria and the Holy Roman Empire.
Gave his son, Philip II, Spain, the Spanish Netherlands and the American colonies.

5. Philip II’s Empire Philip was 1580, Captured Portugal
very religious
hard working
suspicious
aggressive
1580, Captured Portugal
Became the richest king in the world.

6. Philip’s Military Philip had a huge army of about 50,000 soldiers.
He was able to support the army due to his wealth.
Spain was incredibly rich because of Silver imported from America
The Spanish Armada was the world’s most powerful navy. 200 ships and 30,000 soldiers.

7. Defender of Catholicism
When Philip became king, Europe was still in the middle of religious wars.
What movement caused these wars?
Philip felt it was his duty to defend Catholicism.
1571, Philip declared war on the Ottomans.
Philip defeated an Ottoman armada at the battle of Djerba, a strategic island in the Mediterranean.

8. The Defeat of the Spanish Armada
Philip married Mary I of England, but promptly went back to Spain. Upon Mary’s death, he proposed to Elizabeth, but she refused him.
Philip sent his armada to battle the English Protestants.
This time he lost.
This seriously weakened Spain, but because of its wealth it appeared to remain strong.

9. Golden Age of Spanish Art & Literature
Don Quixote
El Greco
Diego Velazquez

10. The Spanish Empire Weakens
This time period had become a materialistic one.
The Americas had made Spain temporarily wealthy due to the gold and silver they supplied.
This treasure helped cause long-term economic problems.

11. Inflation One of Spain’s problems was severe inflation.
Inflation = decline in the value of money, accompanied by the rise in the prices of goods and services.
Two main causes:
Growing population  Demand for more food.
Silver flooded the market  Decreased its value.

12. Taxes Spain had expelled Jews and Muslims in the 1500s.
Lost many valuable artisans and businessmen.
Spain’s nobles did not have to pay taxes.
Tax burden fell on the lower classes.
Could never get ahead and develop their own business.
Therefore, no middle class developed.

13. Making Spain’s Enemies Rich
The same companies that started in the Middle Ages still dominated business.
Old-fashioned methods
High prices
Spaniards turned to France, England & the Netherlands for cheaper goods.
This only made the other countries richer.
These countries were Spain’s enemies.

14. Borrowing Money In order to finance wars, Spain had to borrow money.
Spain borrowed money from German and Italian bankers.
Sent shiploads of silver to repay the debts.
Philip had to declare Spain bankrupt three times.

15. The Dutch Revolt
Spain had to keep an army in the Spanish Netherlands to keep the people under control.
Spain = Catholic; Dutch = Calvinist
Spain = poor economy; Dutch = prosperous middle class
Philip raised taxes in the Netherlands and tried to crush Protestantism.

16. The Dutch Revolt (cont.)
1566, Protestants swept through Catholic churches.
Philip sent an army to punish the rebels.
1,500 Protestants and suspected rebels were executed in a single day.
The Dutch and Spanish fought for 11 more years.
Seven northern provinces of the Netherlands united and declared their independence from Spain.
Ten southern provinces stayed under Spanish control.

17. The Independent Dutch Prosper
The seven northern provinces became known as the United Provinces of the Netherlands.
They were different…
They practiced religious toleration.
They formed a republic, not a kingdom.
Each elected a governor, whose power depended on the support of merchants and landowners.

18. Dutch Art & Dutch Trading Empire
Rembrandt
Vermeer
Dutch East India Company

19. Absolutism in Europe
Although, Philip lost his Dutch possessions, he was a forceful ruler in many ways.
He tried to control every aspect of his empire’s affairs.
Following Philip, many rulers would claim the authority to rule without limits on their power.

20. The Theory of Absolutism
Absolute monarchs – kings or queens who held all of the power within their states’ boundaries.
Their goal was to control every aspect of society.
Believed in divine right – the idea that God created the monarchy and that the monarch acted as God’s representative on earth.
An absolute monarch answered only to God, not to his or her subjects.

21. Growing Power of Europe’s Monarchs
Growing middle class supported the monarch because they promised a peaceful, supportive climate for business.
Church authority broke down and gave the monarchs greater control.
Colonies were used to supply wealth to the Europeans.

22. Crises Lead to Absolutism
Religious and territorial conflicts between states led to almost continuous warfare.
In response, governments built huge armies and raised taxes.
Led to unrest and revolts by peasants.
In response to the crises, monarchs tried to increase their own power.
Regulated religious worship and social gatherings.
Goal: To free themselves from the limitations imposed by the nobility and by representative bodies such as the Parliament.