1. Spain’s Absolute Monarchs
5.1
Spain’s Absolute Monarchs

2. Phillip II Charles V divides his empire after Peace of Augsburg
His son, Phillip II gets Spain & American colonies
Phillip very aggressive
Takes Portugal after Portuguese king dies because he was king’s nephew
Spain becomes very rich – Phillip claims 25% of all treasure for personal riches

3. Phillip II Very religious Catholic
Sends armada to defeat non-Catholic empires
Tries to defeat Elizabeth I & English navy
England wins
This is the beginning of the end of Spanish dominance

4. Spanish Art and Literature
El Greco, Diego Velazques famous Spanish painters
Miguel de Cervantes writes Don Quixote
Considered birth of modern European novel
Protagonist = Spanish noble who goes crazy
Tries to correct ills of the world

5. Spanish Empire Weakens
Severe inflation causes economic problems
Inflation = decline in value of money while increase in cost of goods
Causes to Spain’s inflation
Growing population
Large amounts of silver brought to Spain from Americas (large supply lowers value)
Spain expels Jews and Moors
Talented businesspeople and artisans move away, help other economies

6. Spanish Empire Weakens
Expensive production methods increase the price of items – Spaniards purchase from other countries
Due to wars, Spanish debt increases
Phillip declares bankruptcy 3 times
Dutch declare independence

7. Dutch Artists Rembrandt greatest Dutch artist of 1600s
Painted middle class
Jan Vermeer paints every day activities
Artists increase importance to merchants, civic leaders, and middle class

8. Absolutism
Absolute monarch = monarch with TOTAL control of government and society
Believed in divine right
Divine right = power to rule is given from God
Monarch is God’s representative on Earth
Monarch answers only to God
As Church authority declines, monarch power grows
Riots and unrest contribute to absolutism