Unit 3 – Spain as a great power 1556-159845 minutes 1 from 2

Top Band

•Focus on question set•Focus on evaluation •Provide a convincing assessment •Range of factors/points•Balanced between factors•Linked where appropriate •Supported throughout by factual

knowledge

Key themes to revise

•What was the condition of mainland Spain at the end of Charles I reign?

•How did Philip II govern Spain?•What problems in Spain did he face

throughout his reign?•What was the legacy of Philip II? Philip

III’s inheritance

Must cover• Philip II’s inheritance• Philip’s policies towards Court faction and

provinces• Inflation• Religion - attempts to strengthen Catholicism,

relations with the papacy, the Morisco’s problem• Philip III’s inheritance or how successful was

Philip II - Conditions in Spain at the end of the reign, impact of Dutch revolt on Spain, policies towards England and France, character and problems of Philip III.

‘A highly successful King’. Assess this view of Philip II.

Successful?

Successful? Unsuccessful?

Spain religiously united

Preserved MonarquiaBullion from new world

Maintained control of Church in Spain

Attempted to challenge heresy where Strategically viable to defendCatholicism – Lepanto 1571

Financial cost of defending Monarquia and Catholicism

Inefficient governmentPaper King –

government paralysis by 1590’s

Rebellion of Provinces – Moriscos 1568 , Netherlands

1566 and Aragon 1590

Maintained Catholic unity Of Empire (Exception of Netherlands)

Economic issues

Military defeat by French, English and Dutch

Final analysis – seeds sown in 16th Century for Spain's later demise

‘Golden Age’ of culture

Acquisition of Portugal in 1580

Counter ReformationReforming degrees of Council

introduced

‘Black Legend’ view – MotleyTyrannical / Absolute

Historians Assessment

•Philip ultimately left similarly difficult and complex legacy to that of his father.

•Motley and Watson argue ‘Black Legend’ view of Philip – tyrannical and absolute

•Elliot ‘ Philip had spent all he had, and reduced to misery his kingdom of Castile’.

•Koenigsberger – Philip was no tyrant and monster but ultimately his reign was a failure. It sowed the seeds of Spain’s later demise.

A ‘Golden age’ for Spanish culture?• Arts, architecture and scholarship encouraged by

Philip.e.g.• Capital established in Madrid 1561 next 25 years

Alcazar (Royal Citadel) remodelled and extended.• Escorial built – private monastery, palace and

mausleum.• Titian commissioned to paint various works of art• Writers such as St Teresa of Avila supported

• However counter argument that Spain under watchful eye of inquisition turned in on itself and fell behind rest of Europe.

• Also Philip’s interest not supported by Royal court.