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I. The Decline of Spain
- a. 17th: Spain most populous empire in world, controlling almost all of S. America and some of Asia and Africa
- i. Treasury empty
- 1. Philip II went bankrupt in 1596 fromw ar
- 2. Philip III spent fortune on court in 1607
- a. Allowed greedy minister duke of Lerma to run country
- i. Interested in power and wealth for self and family
- 3. Armed forces out of date
- 4. Government inefficient
- 5. Commercial class weak in midst of suppressed peasantry, luxury-loving nobles, and too many priest and monks
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I. The Decline of Spain
Philip IV
- i. Reign seemed capable, especially in Gaspar de Guzman, chief minister, the count of Olivares
- 1. Dominated king’s moves and tried to revive monarchical interests
- ii. Domestic reforms for curtailing Church and aristocracy’s power
- iii. Political reform to centralive government of spain and possessions
- iv. Little success because number and power of Spanish aristocrats made them too strong
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I. The Decline of Spain
Philip and Olivares
- i. Philip and Olivares tried to pursue Spain’s imperial glory through internal revolts
- 1. Thirty Years Warà expensive military campaigns that incited internal revolts and years of civil warà unsuccessful revolts
- ii. Battle of ROcroi in 1643: Spanish army destroyed
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I. The Decline of Spain
1640s
- a. 1640s: no illusion about Spain’s greatness
- i. Foreign losses
- 1. Dutch independependence recognized by Peace of Westphalia in 1648
- 2. Peace of the Pyrenees with France in 1659 meant surrender of Artois and outlying defenses of the Spain Netherlands as well as certain border regions that went to France
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