The Enlightenment and its Impact on Spain
Key Principles of the Enlightenment
- Reason: The belief that human rationality could illuminate darkness and societal errors. It was the way to overcome biased notions and religious dogmas.
- Progress: The development of knowledge allowed civilizations to dominate nature and create wealth and well-being.
- Happiness: An individual right and a societal aspiration that rulers were obliged to seek.
Enlightenment Truths
- The Enlightenment was mostly a reformist movement. True
- The Enlightenment led to scientific and technical stagnation. False (The Enlightenment led to various scientific and technical innovations.)
- The development of the Enlightenment caused the Church and absolutism to increase their influence. False (The development of the Enlightenment caused the Church and absolutism to lose part of their influence.)
Key Enlightenment Thinkers
(a) Rousseau proposed a model of society where (b) sovereignty was in the hands of the people and not of the king. He supported (c) democracy, a society guided by the general will.
(d) Montesquieu criticized (e) absolute monarchies and proposed a moderate monarchy, separating executive, legislative, and (f) judicial powers.
(g) Voltaire criticized religious (h) fanaticism. He was an advocate of freedom of (i) religion. He favored enlightened (j) despotism but fought for civil rights and judicial reform.
Limitations of the Enlightenment in Spain
The Church still imposed censorship, and some advances made in the scientific revolution were not known by the wider public: they were only discussed in certain intellectual circles.
Agricultural Methods: Fallow vs. Continuous Crop Rotation
In Great Britain, in the early 18th century, the fallow method of agriculture was replaced by the continuous crop rotation method.
The fallow method left some of the land uncultivated to allow the soil to regenerate. Continuous crop rotation was based on introducing crops that replenished the soil even though the field was not left fallow and that could be used as food for livestock.
Mechanization of Agriculture in 18th-Century Britain
Examples include iron plows, seed drills, and new harvesting techniques.
The War of Succession
When Carlos II of Habsburg died without children, there were two pretenders to the throne: ….. and ….. .
b. Carlos of Habsburg / Prince Felipe of Bourbon
- Felipe V was sworn in as king of the monarchy’s different kingdoms between …..
c. 1701 and 1702
- Felipe V had the most significant number of supporters in ….. .
a. Castilla
Key Dates in the War of Succession
- The Hague Alliance declared war on France and Felipe V, causing an international war to break out in 1701.
- A civil war broke out in the Spanish kingdoms between supporters of the Habsburgs and the Bourbons in 1705.
- The European war ended with the signing of the Peace of Utrecht in 1713.
- The civil war between the Spanish kingdoms lasted until 1715.
- The Nueva Planta decrees were used to abolish the courts, fueros, diputaciones generales, customs, and fiscal systems of the kingdoms of the Crown of Aragón in 1707, 1711, and 1715.
Governmental Changes: From Habsburg to Bourbon
The old Habsburg model of government (with councils and validos acting as prime ministers) was replaced with cabinets.
Enlightened Despotism in Spain
Carlos III is the main example of enlightened despotism in Spain among the Bourbon kings.
Key Terms Related to Land Ownership
- Manos muertas were lands owned by the Church and religious orders that could not be sold.
- Mayorazgos were lands owned by noble families that would be inherited entirely by the first-born son.
- Common lands were pastures and forests that the local people exploited for free, as the old town councils owned these lands, which could not be sold.
- Personal assets included real estate, agricultural land, and pastures rented to local people in exchange for rent. The money was used to pay for the expenses of the town council: schools, salaries, and public works like fountains and roads.