Spanish Power Grows

What was Charles V’s empire like?How did Philip II increase Spanish power?

How did the arts flourish during Spain’s golden age?

Charles V Rules 2 Empires• Spain had grown rich and strong by the 1500s as a result of the rule

of Ferdinand and Isabella, forced religious unity, and the Age of Exploration

• Ferdinand and Isabella’s grandson, Charles, inherited the Spain and its empire in 1516…3 years later, he also inherited the Hapsburg Empire (Holy Roman Empire and the Netherlands) when his other grandpa died

• Challenges:– Charles V was Catholic during the beginning of the Protestant

Reformation…he was the one that allowed his German princes to choose to be Catholic or Protestant

– Muslim forces threatened his land holdings East– He had to rule 2 large empires at once

• Abdication: Charles gave up his title and retired to a monastery– He gave his brother, Ferdinand, the Hapsburg Empire– His son, Philip, took over Spain

Philip II: Absolute Monarch• Philip was focused on ruling and lived simply• Promoted his “divine right” of being king and became an absolute monarch• Strengthened the Catholic Church and turned the Inquisition against

Protestants • Married 4 women (in succession) to strengthen alliances• Sent a fleet of ships (armada) against the English (their Protestant enemy) in

an epic battle, but they were defeated• Decline:

– The defeat of the armada was the beginning of the end for Spain as a massively strong empire

– Spain taxed the middle class, leading to less support for the king– Overseas wars cost a lot– Spain relied too heavily on treasures coming in from America rather than focusing

on farming and trading– The expulsion of Muslim and Jews meant Spain lacked many skilled merchants and

artisans

Philip II: Smart MarriagesMarriages

Maria Mary Tudor

Elizabeth Valois Anna

Alliance: England

Alliance: France

Alliance: Portugal

Alliance: Austria

Spain’s Golden Age

• 1550-1650: Siglo de Oro (Golden Century)• El Greco: (“The Greek”) Greek immigrant painter• Diego Velázquez: painted Spanish royalty• Lope de Vega: Spanish writer (comedies and

action-packed romances)• Miguel de Cervantes: Spanish writer (Don

Quixote)

El Greco

Diego Velázquez