Modern Age
It began with the discovery of the American continent in 1492 and ended with the French Revolution in 1789..
It was an age of exploration and discoveries:
During Columbus’ time, the only place to get certain spices or precious silks was by traveling to the Indies. The only sea route that had ever been used took a long time since they had to sail east around Africa.
That is why Columbus wanted to sail to the west to try and reach the Indies. Since no one knew how big the Earth was, he argued that you could reach the Indies quickly by sailing to the west.
However, when he went to the King of Portugal to tell him his idea and get money for a voyage, Columbus was denied. He then went and asked the kings of France, England, and Spain for help. They didn’t help him either.
That is why Columbus wanted to sail to the west to try and reach the Indies. Since no one knew how big the Earth was, he argued that you could reach the Indies quickly by sailing to the west.
However, when he went to the King of Portugal to tell him his idea and get money for a voyage, Columbus was denied. He then went and asked the kings of France, England, and Spain for help. They didn’t help him either.
Then, in 1492, the king and queen of Spain agreed to help him. They gave him three ships: the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. He and his crew set sail in August in search of the Indies.
In October 12th his crew sighted land. Columbus claimed that they had reached the Indies, though, in reality, it was an island off the coast of Florida, which he named San Salvador. Since Columbus thought that he was in the Indies, he called the locals Indians, though he had actually found the New World. |
After returning to Spain, Columbus planned three other trips to America and there he explored places such as Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Venezuela, Honduras and Panama, among others.
Hernán Cortés and Francisco de Pizarro are other important conquistadors who introduced Catholithism and Spanish language to the indigenous people from the three pre-Columbian empires: Maya, Azteca and Inca.
Hernán Cortés and Francisco de Pizarro are other important conquistadors who introduced Catholithism and Spanish language to the indigenous people from the three pre-Columbian empires: Maya, Azteca and Inca.
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Society was divided in three groups or statements:
-NOBILITY: royalty and members from the upper class (lords and ladies)
-CLERGY: church officials (bishops, priests)
-COMMONERS:
-Burghers: merchants, doctors, lawyers, artisans, shopkeepers. They lived in towns and cities.
-Peasants: They lived in the country; they were the largest social group; they were very poor and lived in terrible conditions.
-CLERGY: church officials (bishops, priests)
-COMMONERS:
-Burghers: merchants, doctors, lawyers, artisans, shopkeepers. They lived in towns and cities.
-Peasants: They lived in the country; they were the largest social group; they were very poor and lived in terrible conditions.
The economy:
- Agriculture: was the main economic activity.
- Commerce: was growing.
- More people began travelling to other countries.
- European countries produced more coins, using silver and gold from America.
- The first banks.
- Industry: was starting.
- The first modern factories appeared.
Spanish monarchy:
XV Century: The Catholic Kings:
-United their kingdoms (Castilla and Aragón) and their power increased.
- Authoritarian Monarchy.
-Territorial expansion:
- Conquered: Canary Islands, Kingdom of Granada (end of the Reconquista), Melilla,
Kingdom of Navarra, Kingdoms of Napoles, Cerdeña and Sicilia.
-Gave money to Columbus for the journey in which America was discovered.
- Married their children (Isabel of Aragón, María of Aragón, Juana of Castilla, Catherine of Aragón and Juan of Aragón) to heirs of powerful European monarchies.
- Defended Christian faith and were intolerant toward other religions. Founded the Spanish Inquisition.
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XVI Century: Carlos I and Felipe II (Hapsburgs dynasty)
During the 16th century the Spanish monarchy formed an extensive empire across several continents. Carlos I, grandson of the Catholic Monarchs ruled the most powerful monarchy in Europe.
Like his father, Felipe II defended Catholicism and fought against other European countries.
XVII Century: Felipe III, Felipe IV and Carlos II (Hapsburgs dynasty)
In this century the economic prosperity suffers a crisis due to different reaspons:
- Loss of territories.
- Monetary problems. Contrast between the poverty of the peasants and the wealth of the Court.
- Agricultural crisis: wars, plagues and emigration.
- Weakness of the monarchy: delegated on "favourites" or "validos".
- Loss of territories.
- Monetary problems. Contrast between the poverty of the peasants and the wealth of the Court.
- Agricultural crisis: wars, plagues and emigration.
- Weakness of the monarchy: delegated on "favourites" or "validos".
XVIII Century: Felipe V, Fernando VI, Carlos III and Carlos IV (Bourbon dynasty)
After the death of Carlos II and the crisis of succession between different European dynasties, the Bourbons began the rule of the country.
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Cultural movements:
XVII Century: The Golden Age.
- It was a period of cultural splendour in art and literature.
- Excessive, pessimistic and sarcastic.
- Miguel de Cervantes, Calderón de la Barca, Quevedo and Lope de Vega are the most representative authors in this period.
- It was a period of cultural splendour in art and literature.
- Excessive, pessimistic and sarcastic.
- Miguel de Cervantes, Calderón de la Barca, Quevedo and Lope de Vega are the most representative authors in this period.
XVIII Century: The Enlightentment.
Philosophical movement that gives importance to reason and inellect.
-Curiosity about the world
-The study of nature
-Scientific method
-Printing press
-Technical advances
-Development in mathematics, physics, astronomy and medicine
-Greatest thinkers: Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Servet, Descartes, Bacon, Pascal, Newton, Linnaeus and Jenner.
Philosophical movement that gives importance to reason and inellect.
-Curiosity about the world
-The study of nature
-Scientific method
-Printing press
-Technical advances
-Development in mathematics, physics, astronomy and medicine
-Greatest thinkers: Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, Servet, Descartes, Bacon, Pascal, Newton, Linnaeus and Jenner.
Artistic movements:
15th-16th centuries: RENAISSANCE.
- Began in Italy.
- Classical Greek and Roman art.
- Concept of beauty.
- Serenity and harmony.
- El Greco, Miguel Ángel, Boticcelli, Leonardo Da Vinci...
- Began in Italy.
- Classical Greek and Roman art.
- Concept of beauty.
- Serenity and harmony.
- El Greco, Miguel Ángel, Boticcelli, Leonardo Da Vinci...
17th-18th centuries: BAROQUE.
- Linked to the Catholic church.
- Religious themes.
- Realistic Style: movement and expression.
- Velázquez, Murillo, Rubens, Rembrandt, Caravaggio...
- Linked to the Catholic church.
- Religious themes.
- Realistic Style: movement and expression.
- Velázquez, Murillo, Rubens, Rembrandt, Caravaggio...