Political Organization and Institutions in Medieval Spain
Political Organization and Institutions
Royal Power and the Rise of the Courts
The power of kings was limited to the royal lands. In 1188, Leon summoned the bourgeois to the Curia on behalf of the cities, giving rise to the Courts. Originally, it consisted of three branches, attending to the king’s queries and voting on subsidies, fulfilling the basic obligations of the vassal: auxilium and consilium. This polity evolved differently in Castile and Aragon.
Castile: Centralization and Royal Authority
Castile
Read MoreArgentina’s Population Dynamics: Growth, Distribution, and Aging
Argentina’s Population Dynamics
Slow population growth implies both an increase and a decline in population, comprised of natural growth and migration. If births outweigh deaths, growth will be positive. It is also influenced by the demographic character of the area. The volume and the rate at which crests occur are related to population changes in composition by age, sex, occupation, education, and origin. Argentina is a country of slow growth:
- Population growth gradually decreases.
- The low birth
Economic Reforms in Spain Under Charles III
Limiting Livestock Interests of the Mesta
The Honourable Council of the Mesta was affected by liberalization measures. With the increasing price of corn, owners chose to invest in crops rather than livestock. The colonization of new lands in 1767, under the supervision of Pablo de Olavide, launched a plan to colonize uninhabited regions of Sierra Morena, which were infested with bandits. Spanish, German, and Flemish Catholic immigrants were used, and the state provided them with a free house, furniture,
Read MoreIberian Peninsula in the Middle Ages: A History
The Iberian Peninsula in the Middle Ages: Early Christian Resistance
In the 8th century, Muslims occupied most of the Iberian Peninsula. However, Christian nuclei persisted in the mountainous northern regions (Galicia, Cantabrian mountains, Pyrenees).
Two interpretations explain the origin of these nuclei:
- Traditional interpretation: Visigothic refugees in the north began the Reconquista.
- Modern interpretation: Northern indigenous peoples, not Romanized or dominated by the Visigoths, formed the resistance.
Spanish Economy: Production Factors, Demographics, and Capital
Unit 6: Production Factors
6.1 The Geophysical Basis of the Spanish Economy
The natural factor has two dimensions:
- Geophysics: This dimension addresses nature’s most influential aspects on economic activity.
- Environment: This dimension reflects the state of conservation within the biosphere.
Its elements include:
- Geographical: Spain’s location between Europe, Africa, and America is a favorable factor.
- Regional: Spain has a large extension compared to other EU states.
- Orography: This acts adversely, disrupting
Key Concepts: Factory System, Mercantilism, and Social Classes
Key Economic and Social Concepts
- Factory System: A productive method of work organization and industrial production, contrasting with the domestic system. It centralizes machinery, tools, and workers under one roof. Each employee contributes a separate part to the total output, increasing process efficiency.
- Domestic System: A productive method of work organization where industrial production occurs in a scattered manner in workers’ homes, often part-time and alternating with agricultural work. Bourgeois