Chapter 18 Section 1
The Power of Spain
Main Idea: In the 1500s, Spain had a golden age, but internal problems caused it to lose much power by the 1600s
King Charles
-1516àCharles I becomes king of Spain
-Was an “absolute monarch”
-Had total control over empire
-Ruled by “divine right”
-Power given to them by God, should not be questioned
-Ruled over Spain, colonies in Americas, Belgium, Netherlands
-1519àBecame Holy Roman Emperor (now Charles V)
-Bought votes to get elected
-Basically Germany and parts of Italy
-Empire was huge
-Had lots of enemies (French, Turks, German princes)
-Wanted to make all Europe Catholic
-Protestant Reformation going on
-Declared Luther an outlaw
-Peace of Augsburg (Ch. 16)
-Allowed German princes to decide Protestant / Catholic
-Had more success in the Americas
-Cortes (Aztecs), Coronado (SW USA)
-Bringing in lots of gold
-Gave up the throne in 1556
-Lots of issues (Protestantism main issue)
-Divide empire between brother (HRE) and son (Phillip II)
Artistic Achievements
-Golden Century for Spain (1550s to 1650s)
-Art
-El Greco (religious paintings; pro-Catholic)
-Diego Velazquez (painted all social classes lives)
-Literature
-Miguel Cervantes
-Wrote “Don Quixote”
Philip II
-Devout Catholic
-Married Queen Mary I of England
-Died before giving birth to an heir
-Faced religious rebellion in Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg)
-Tried to squash rebellion
-Court of Blood
-Tortured, executed suspected rebels
-Reached truceàNetherlands now independent Protestant nation
-Problems with England
-England supported Dutch in rebellion
-QE I allowed ships to attack Spanish ships loaded with gold
-Sir Francis Drake
-Philip decides to invade England
-Sends out 130 ships and 20K sailors (Spanish Armada)
-British defeat Armada in series of attacks
-Declining power
-Loss of the Armada
-Failure to conquer England
-Philip wanted total control
-Empire too big
-Became paranoid
-Spain almost bankrupt (wars)
-Borrowed moneyàInflation increased
