Ecosystems, Environmental Science, and Resource Sustainability

Ecosystem Structure and Components

The structure of an ecosystem is characterized by the organization of both biotic and abiotic components. This includes the distribution of energy in the environment, as well as the climatic conditions prevailing in that particular environment.

The structure of an ecosystem can be divided into two main components:

  • Biotic Components
  • Abiotic Components

The biotic and abiotic components are interrelated within an ecosystem. An ecosystem is an open system where energy and

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Charles V’s Spain: Internal Strife and Habsburg Governance

Charles V’s Reign: Internal Conflicts and Imperial Challenges

The Comunero Revolt and the Germanías (1516-1521)

After the death of Ferdinand II of Aragon in 1516, Charles of Ghent, son of Joanna the Mad and Philip the Fair, ascended to the throne in 1517, becoming Charles I of Spain and Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1518, Charles I took possession of Castile and Aragon, swearing to uphold their charters. He inherited vast dynastic territories across Europe and America. This revitalized idea

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Spain’s Migration Journey: Emigration, Immigration, and Societal Shifts

Historical Spanish Emigration: Seasonal Labor Abroad

Historically, Spain experienced significant seasonal migration, particularly from Andalusia and Galicia. Men from these regions often traveled to France and Switzerland for agricultural work, or to other European countries for industrial and construction jobs.

Impact of External Migration on Spain

The consequences of this external migration were multifaceted, affecting Spain’s population, economy, and social fabric.

  • Demographic Impact

    The Spanish population

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Spanish Disentailment: Historical Phases and Societal Impact

Background: Spanish Disentailment

Secularization, while considered fundamentally progressive and liberal, had already begun to be applied in the eighteenth century. There are examples of political disentailment and feudal disentailment in Spain, which also took place during the eighteenth century.

However, for some historians, it was the nineteenth century when the phenomenon truly began in Spain, running until the disentailment known as the Municipal Statute in 1924, under José Calvo Sotelo.

Stages

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Industrial Transformation: From Early Crafts to Modern Factories

Pre-Industrial Society & Economy

Early Farming Life (90% Population)

  • Men: plowing, tilling, sowing, harvesting
  • Women: childcare, cooking, planting, making clothing
  • Children: scared birds away, worked with wood, did household tasks
  • Tiny villages: fewer than 100 people, self-sufficient communities

Technology & Organization in Early Farming

  • Shared tools and draft teams
  • Fields divided into strips (some fallow)
  • Grew food for subsistence, not surplus
  • Raised cattle, pigs, goats
  • Salted meat to preserve it
  • Wolves
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Global Economic Transformation: The Second Industrial Revolution

The Development of Large-Scale Capitalism (1870-1914)

From 1870 onwards, Europe, the USA, and Japan experienced a strong development of economic activity. This period is often referred to as Big Business or the Second Phase of the Industrial Revolution.

Key Factors of Industrial Capitalism

Industrial capitalism significantly contributed to economic growth through several key factors:

  • New Sources of Funding

    Large amounts of money were required for the installation and renovation of factories. This capital

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