Medieval Society and the Evolution of Governance in Spain
Government and Representation in the Medieval Era
Principal Features of the Middle Ages
Feudalism
- Nobility (lords among whom the king was chosen)
- Characteristics: Right to rule through birth, owned all the land, decided how it would be distributed and used by the people.
- Clergy (the Pope, Cardinals, Archbishops, etc., were often given fiefs by a monarch; the church became wealthy and did not have to pay taxes; monks were usually the only ones who could read and write)
- Serfs (the largest group, performed physical work, provided the income of the rich with rents and taxes, had few human comforts)
Conclusion: A system of mutual obligations, feudalism was a way of organizing society through a hierarchy. In a feudal society, everyone had specific duties and obligations.
Manorialism
An economic system that supported feudalism. The lord of a manor provided a place to live and protection to the serfs, and in return, they provided him with free labor.
Religion
Christianity
Crusades
- Trade with eastern regions increased.
- More and further expeditions to unknown lands.
- New ideas, greater knowledge, and more inventions.
- People’s lives improved.
Organization of Society
Medieval Europe was an agricultural society.
Three Major Events that Rapidly Reduced the Population
- The Great Famine (1315-1317)
- The Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453)
- The Black Death (1346-1353)
The Rise of Constitutionalism
The constitution appeared, whose role is to limit the ruling power and regulate its activity, as well as to guarantee the freedom of citizens.
Origin: Rationalist theories of natural justice in the late 18th century.
Principles: The existence of natural law, according to which man had inalienable rights, and the division of legislative, executive, and judicial powers.
Prevailing Ideas: All men must be equal before the law. These new ideas penetrated the Parliament of Cádiz in the 19th century.
Statutes and Constitutions in Spain
- Statute of Bayonne (1808)
- The Constitution of Cadiz (1812)
- Principles: Pillars of the state were the monarchy, parliament, and courts; sovereignty lay in the nation; separation of powers; confessional state; creation of legal codes and unitary jurisdiction.
- Rights: Legal equality, the right to education, the right to freedom of expression, private property.
- In 1868, there was a revolution (“The Glorious Revolution”) that began in Cadiz with a military coup by General Prim and Serrano, ending the reign of Isabel II.
- Principles: National sovereignty, justice, liberty, and security of the nation; separation of powers.
- Rights: Privacy, freedom of residence, of movement, religion, and expression; free association.
- Constitutional Organs: Parliament (2 chambers), Monarchy (the monarch is sacred and inviolate, not subject to responsibilities; the monarch had executive powers).