Absolutism in Spain under Philip II

Absolutism in Spain under Philip II

• Absolutism: A system where a ruler holds complete power over all aspects of citizens' lives (economy, military, religion).
• Divine Right: The belief that a ruler is chosen directly by God.
• Mercantilism: An economic system focused on wealth accumulation through trade, exploration, and establishing new industries.
• Wealth in the 1500s: Associated with productivity and new inventions.
• Balance of Power: A strategy to prevent any single nation from becoming too powerful, often leading to conflict.

Philip II's Reign and Challenges

• Spain: A powerful Catholic empire, ruling vast territories.
• Holy Roman Empire (HRE): Contested territory for influence. The Netherlands (rich from shipping and trade) was also within the realm
• Spanish Empire: Included North and South America, and parts of Central Europe. Charles V fractured empires to create manageable pieces
• Religious Division: The Protestant Reformation (Martin Luther, 1517) challenged Catholic Church authority, creating conflict over religious beliefs (not as strict or rigid, in the Catholic Church)
• Peace of Augsburg: Allowed German princes to choose a religion, weakening the Catholic Church, but helping avoid conflict.
• Weaknesses of the Spanish Empire:
• Too large and costly to defend, a lack of cohesiveness.
• Risk of rebellion, hard to control or maintain power.
• Fears of repeating the collapse of the Roman Empire.
• Corruption within the government.

Philip II's Goals and Actions

• Expand Influence: Spread Spanish influence including language, Catholic culture (arts, customs, food)
• Strengthen the Catholic Church: Work to protect the Catholic Church through war against heretics (those opposing religious doctrines). Battle of Lepanto (success increased his power)
• Increase Absolute Rule: Drove to undo the Peace of Augsburg, creating the Escorial palace as a symbol of power and wealth.
• Inflation: Caused by the influx of gold and silver from the Americas, decreasing the value of money.

Philip II's Ineffective Policies and Failures

• Netherlands: A rich colony, Protestant, and a source of resistance against Philip's rule. Conflicts arise, as Philip did not want the people to convert to Protestantism as religious persecution was implemented.
• Foreign Opposition: France and England feared Spanish dominance, supporting the Dutch revolt, weakening Spain.
• Spanish Armada: A powerful fleet, intended to challenge England's naval power, but ultimately defeated by English tactics and storms.
• Economic Problems:
• Loss of colonies lead to the necessity of taxing the Spanish people, causing unrest
• Failure of overseas ambitions caused a decline of money.
• The allure of Spain declined.

The Consequences of Philip II's Reign

• Golden Century: A period of economic and cultural success in Spain, despite internal struggles
• Weaknesses: Charles V's split empire damaged Spain's leadership, as the various factions of the empire fought amongst one another. Philip II’s focus on conquering external enemies neglected the internal problems within the Spanish Empire.
• Struggles with Religious and Political Differences: Expulsion of Muslims and Jews negatively impacted Spain’s economy and society to a great degree
• Decline of Spain:
• Conflicts and bad decisions resulted in the decline of Spain's power
• Loss of overseas territories harmed them economically and politically.
• Philip neglecting the problems of everyday citizens harmed the citizens, and lead to significant turmoil amongst the common people.