Why Did The Spanish Decline Of The 1600s
Spanish Decline of the 1600s
Nathan Meyer
History 116
Professor Ruth Frost
October 2, 2012 Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, Spain, under the Habsburg name, had become a dominant force in not only Europe, but the rest of the world as well. Through strategic marriage, the Habsburg Empire was a quilt of different religions, cultures, class and lifestyles. With the emergence of agro towns and ideologies circulating from the arbistras, the Spanish population started to see options regarding lifestyles. Although Spain thrived on these key points, major changes within the feeling of the Habsburg Empire in the coming century twisted these qualities and led the Spanish to war, criticism and religious uproar. …show more content…
Complaints came prominently from a group of lawyers, clergy and state officials, who went by the name of “arbitristas1.” They presented ideas of reformation such as how to adapt society to the change that was about to be thrust upon the Spanish population and its colonies. They also gave insight towards economic status of the empire. The arbitristas had compelling messages, but King Philip III felt as though it was his duty alone to fix the problem of the people, and took it on as a personal task2. Alas, it was known that the king was not addressing these situations, as the workload was too immense to possibly be fulfilled to a reasonable extent by any one man3. Although the intended audience of the arbitristas’ remained ignorantly unreceptive to their progressive insights, the general population listened to their lessons and learnt to act more
Nathan Meyer
History 116
Professor Ruth Frost
October 2, 2012 Throughout the 15th and 16th centuries, Spain, under the Habsburg name, had become a dominant force in not only Europe, but the rest of the world as well. Through strategic marriage, the Habsburg Empire was a quilt of different religions, cultures, class and lifestyles. With the emergence of agro towns and ideologies circulating from the arbistras, the Spanish population started to see options regarding lifestyles. Although Spain thrived on these key points, major changes within the feeling of the Habsburg Empire in the coming century twisted these qualities and led the Spanish to war, criticism and religious uproar. …show more content…
Complaints came prominently from a group of lawyers, clergy and state officials, who went by the name of “arbitristas1.” They presented ideas of reformation such as how to adapt society to the change that was about to be thrust upon the Spanish population and its colonies. They also gave insight towards economic status of the empire. The arbitristas had compelling messages, but King Philip III felt as though it was his duty alone to fix the problem of the people, and took it on as a personal task2. Alas, it was known that the king was not addressing these situations, as the workload was too immense to possibly be fulfilled to a reasonable extent by any one man3. Although the intended audience of the arbitristas’ remained ignorantly unreceptive to their progressive insights, the general population listened to their lessons and learnt to act more