Spanish Agriculture in the Early 20th Century: Crisis and Reform
Agrarian Backwardness and Conflict
The Agrarian Crisis
At the beginning of the 20th century, Spanish agriculture faced the consequences of the agrarian crisis that swept through Europe in the late 19th century. There was an agriculture oriented mainly towards the cultivation of cereals, and it basically had a herd of sheep. Spain accused the grain crisis more strongly than other neighboring countries. The cause of the crisis was the arrival in Europe of products from countries with extensive agriculture,
Read MoreUrban Expansion in 19th-Century Spain: A Deep Dive
The Expansion of Cities
One of the most significant events of the nineteenth century was the growth of cities. The city became the symbol of modernity and the epicenter of social transformations and economic, political, and cultural change.
Spanish Urbanization
Urbanization in Spain was considerable during the nineteenth century but did not reach the heights of European industrialized countries. The process in Spain resulted in almost the same growth as other Mediterranean countries. The growth of
Read MoreTransformation of Europe: From Agrarian Roots to Enlightenment
An Agrarian and Manorial Economy
The economy of the Ancien Regime was mainly rural. Land was entailed, which meant it could not be bought or sold, and it was concentrated in the hands of the nobility and the Church. The lords received manorial rents and taxes paid by the peasants and had the power to issue orders and impart justice. Peasants also had to pay 10% of their harvest to the Church. Agriculture used traditional methods, and productivity was low. Most people practiced subsistence farming,
Read MoreUnderstanding Globalization and the World’s Economic Powers
1. Globalization
Globalization refers to the process of increasing interdependence of the world’s economies and societies.
Characteristics:
- Huge expansion of international trade
- Business concentration (companies merge to become more competitive)
- Global organization of production
- Large multinational companies
2. Globalization Factors
- Information society (new information and communication technologies are in use)
- Cheaper transportation (facilitates the flow of goods and people)
- Liberalization policies (are
Current Industry Structure, Location, Trends, and Areas
Current Industry Structure
Key characteristics of the current industry structure:
- Reduced Average Size: The average size of firms and industries is reduced, with a prevalence of small or medium-sized companies.
- Insufficient Research and Innovation: Research and innovation efforts are insufficient.
- Inadequate and Dependent Technology Creation: The creation of technology is inadequate and dependent on external sources.
Current Industry Location
Current location factors:
- Proximity to important natural resources
Industrial Evolution: From Mechanization to Globalization
**Modern Industry**
- **Labor:** The first characteristic of modern industry is the prevalence of wage labor.
- **Mechanization:** The second is the use of machines, which began to use new energy sources to operate.
- **Division of Labor:** The third is the division of labor.
**Globalization of the Economy**
- Much production goes to market through global companies.
- Many large firms’ industrial processes are multinational.
- Production is also global.
The various tasks necessary to produce a product are separated,
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