Spanish Golden Age: Society, Culture, and Religion
The Spanish Golden Age: Society, Culture, and Religion
The Spanish Golden Age spanned from approximately the end of the reign of the Catholic Monarchs to the death of the last of the Habsburgs. Spain reached its maximum territorial splendor during this period. Its political power was immense, but the empire was dismembered from the last quarter of the 16th century. Despite the influx of silver from the Indies, Spain became involved in continuous wars during this era. The 16th and 17th centuries are certainly considered the most important period of Spanish history.
Religious Conflicts in Spain
In 1492, the Catholic Monarchs issued two decrees: the constitution of the court of the Inquisition and the expulsion of the Jews. The Inquisition already existed in Europe, and other powers had their own. The jurisdiction and expulsion of the Jews were linked to internal decrees. Many Jews converted to Catholicism (conversos), some of whom were agnostic or kept their religion secret. The descendants of the converts were called “New Christians” and were very numerous.
Reformation and Counter-Reformation
The reassessment of the human being emanating from Renaissance ideas also involved a review of spirituality. From the 15th century, a great reform movement awoke in Europe. One of the most influential authors of the 16th century was the Dutchman Erasmus of Rotterdam. The central lines of his thought were a throwback to the Christianity of the Gospels, leading him to roundly criticize the political and economic power of the Church. In the mid-16th century, the Council of Trent was convened to curb various Protestant reforms and initiate its own religious reform. This would be the starting point of the Counter-Reformation.
The Perfect Courtier
The ideal Renaissance gentleman was famously described in “The Courtier” (1528). He had to possess certain physical, intellectual, and moral virtues.
An Era of Progress
The rediscovery of ancient knowledge brought to light errors. People believed in the idea of progress, which was already present in some individuals during the Middle Ages. A rigorous critical spirit was imposed, which was the origin of modern science.
The Renaissance Mind
Thought in the Renaissance can be understood through two basic aspects: the flowering of humanism and the adoption of classical culture as a model. The Renaissance is generally considered a movement born in the Italian city-states, which desired to become classical republics. To achieve this, an education in rhetoric and knowledge, essential in medieval society, was necessary. Rhetoric was seen as a method of persuasion.
Mannerism
Mannerism served as a transitional movement between the Renaissance and the Baroque. This current was a reaction to classicism, characterized by the rejection of rigid rules and the free use of forms.
The Baroque Mentality
The essential feature of the Baroque mentality could be described as distrust and disappointment. Themes such as life as a dream manifested this obsession. Another recurring theme of the epoch was that of honor. Regarding religious and philosophical ideas, the Baroque in Spain was a period of conservatism and cautious freedom of expression. The essential feature of Renaissance aesthetics is its natural vitality.
A New Aesthetic
In literature, the Renaissance and Baroque opposed the conception of the literary work based on classical literary models. Language changed, as writers of the Latin Silver Age were compared with those of the Golden Age.
Castilian in the Spanish Golden Age
During this era, the Spanish language took on many of its current features. Nebrija had composed a “Castilian Grammar” in 1492. He believed that a time would come when Castilian would disappear, and thanks to his grammar, future speakers of another language could reconstruct it. Castilian could become the most important Romance language.