Charles V, Philip II: Rebellions and Iberian Unity
Government of Charles V and the Germanías
The reign of King Charles I coincided with the outbreak of significant revolts in his kingdoms: Castile and Valencia.
The Revolt of the Comuneros in Castile
This revolt was initiated by Castilian cities against the king’s government. The reasons included growing concerns about the interests of Castile being overshadowed by European affairs. This was evident in several ways: the control of senior positions by Flemish individuals, special tax requests to fund
Read MoreEngland’s Parliamentary System and Habsburg Rule
England and the Parliamentary System
The English King Charles I was an absolute monarch. As he needed to raise money, he summoned Parliament (an assembly of the kingdom’s representatives) to increase taxes.
However, Parliament demanded restrictions to the king’s power.
Consequently, a civil war broke out between the king’s and Parliament’s supporters. Parliament was victorious, the king was executed, and England became a republic. Its leader was Oliver Cromwell, who would become a dictator years later.
Read MoreThe Reformist Biennium: Agrarian and Labor Reforms in Spain
The Reformist Biennium (1931-1933)
The period between April 1931 and September 1933 is known as the Reformist or Social-Azaña Biennium. During this stage, the provisional government underwent significant changes, with government policy inclined towards the center-left:
- The adoption of articles 26 and 27 of the constitution, concerning the issue of religion as a cause of division (October 1931) led to the resignation of Alcalá-Zamora and Miguel Maura. Both sought to lead the Republican right.
- The
The Spanish Civil War: A Summary of Events
The Spanish Civil War
Military Developments
Stages of the Conflict
The rebel army held the strategic initiative from the outset. The first day consolidated fronts in the Sierra de Madrid, Andalusia, and Aragon, which remained relatively stable throughout the conflict.
1) The Madrid Campaign
The rebels awaited the transfer of the Army of Africa. The loyalist fleet controlled the Strait of Gibraltar, but German and Italian aid allowed rebel troops to land. They gradually occupied parts of Andalusia and
Read MoreSpanish American Independence and Moroccan Protectorate
Spanish American Independence and its Aftermath
a) In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, a revolutionary consciousness developed in Spanish America. This was brought about by enlightened ideas, the demonstration effect of American independence, colonial economic expansion, administrative errors by the Monarchy, and the exclusion of natives. This consciousness reached its peak during the peninsular political crisis of 1808.
Upon the departure of Fernando VII of Spain and the start
Read MoreJohn Locke: Foundations of Liberalism and Natural Rights
John Locke’s Political Philosophy
Early ideas from the Stoics, and later Scholasticism, developed the concept of natural law. Scholasticism, in particular, linked this to divine law or ‘Providence,’ suggesting everything occurred according to a divine design. This supported a hierarchical view of society, predominant in Europe, where roles (worker, defender, ruler) were seen as divinely ordained, and power derived from God. While Machiavelli had previously questioned the source of power, the 17th
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