Spain's Empire and European Absolutism

Philip II-

• grandson of Isabella and Ferdinand, very rich

• nicknamed the Catholic King

• Spanish king who took control of Portugal but failed in his invasion of England

• very famous for portraits

Absolute Monarch-

• idea that a ruler receives the right to rule from God

• took control of Portugal

• king or queen with complete control

• patron of arts

Divine Right-

• king of queen with complete control

• idea that a ruler receives the right to rule from God

• supported writers

• secular

Cause: The gold and silver coming from its vast empire made made Spain incredibly wealthy.

Effect?

• allowed nobles and monarchs to become patrons of the arts during the time

• Spain suffered from severe inflation

• the Spanish economy declined and went bankrupt

• seven provinces located in the Spanish Netherlands began to protest

Cause: Prices of goods constantly rose, unfair taxes prevented the poor from gaining any wealth, Spaniards bought more goods from other lands, and silver from other colonies flowed to Spain's enemies.

Effect?

• allowed nobles and monarchs to become patrons of the arts

• Spain suffered from severe inflation

• the Spanish economy declined and at times Spain was bankrupt

• the Dutch became wealthy from trade and banking

Cause: Inflation, no middle class, and expensive wars.

Effect?

• Spain suffered from severe inflation

• seven provinces located in the Dutch Netherlands began to protest

• the Dutch became very wealthy from trading and banking

• the Spanish economy declined and at times Spain went bankrupt

Cause: Philip raised taxes in the Netherlands and tried to crush Protestantism.

Effect?

• the Spanish economy declined and at times Spain went bankrupt

• the Dutch become wealthy from trade and banking

• European monarchs became increasingly powerful

• seven provinces located in the Spanish Netherlands began to protest

Cause: Trading succeeded, gained the largest fleet of merchant ships in the entire world, and was the most important bankers in Europe.

Effect?

• seven provinces located in the Dutch Netherlands declined and at times Spain was bankrupt

• the Dutch became wealthy from trade and banking

• European monarchs became increasingly powerful

• Allowed nobles and monarchs to become patrons of the artists during the time

Cause: Feudalism declines, cities rose, middle class started, and national kingdoms grew.

Effect?

• allowed nobles and monarchs to become patrons of the arts during the time

• seven provinces located in the Dutch Netherlands began to protest

• European monarchs became increasingly powerful

• the Spanish economy declined and at times Spain was bankrupt

El Greco-

• painter; work reflected the religious faith of Spain during this period

• painter; work reflected the pride of the Spanish monarchy

• writer; wrote Don Quixote de la Mancha, which ushered in the birth of the modern European novel