18th Century Spain: A Historical Overview
Population and Demography in the 18th Century
The 18th century in Spain began with the War of the Spanish Succession, ending with the Peace of Utrecht in 1713. This ushered in the reign of the Spanish Bourbons under Philip V and a period of relative peace in Europe. Consequently, Spain experienced an increase in population.
Privileged and Unprivileged
Privileged Few: This small minority of the population, about 20% (15% clergy and 5% nobility), did not pay taxes and held significant power.
- Peerage: Dukes, Marquises, Barons, and gentlemen owned vast tracts of land. Their wealth stemmed from the income generated by these lands, worked by peasants subject to their rule. They answered only to the king in legal matters and enjoyed luxurious lifestyles in opulent city palaces.
- Clergy:
- High Clergy: Cardinals, bishops, abbots, and canons, often from noble families, possessed large estates. They subjected their serfs to near-feudal conditions and collected tithes. They lived lavishly, far removed from the common people.
- Lower Clergy: Priests, monks, and friars, primarily of peasant origin, earned meager incomes and lived in poverty.
Non-Privileged: Comprising 80% of the population, this group bore the burden of taxation and lacked access to high-ranking positions. They were a diverse group with significant economic disparities.
- Rural: The majority were impoverished peasants working the lands of lords (both secular and ecclesiastical). A small number were wealthy landowners who employed laborers.
- Urban: The bourgeoisie, consisting of merchants, traders, artisans, and professionals (doctors, lawyers), accumulated wealth. However, the majority endured harsh living conditions. Workshop employees, laborers, and the poorest—vagrants, beggars, and rogues—lived in abject poverty.
Absolute Monarchy and Parliament
Absolute Monarchy: This system vested all power in the king.
- Executive Power: The king ruled with absolute authority, making decisions without consulting the courts.
- Legislative Power: The king single-handedly created laws.
- Judicial Power: The king held the power to administer justice but often delegated this function to others.
Constitutional Monarchy: In this system, the king’s power is limited. He cannot enact laws, spend money, or raise an army during peacetime without the consent of a bicameral parliament, composed of the House of Lords (nobility) and the House of Commons (bourgeoisie).
Absolute Monarchy in Spain
: Philip V (1700-1746): Philip V, true imitator of his grandfather Louis XIV, and imposed the absolutist style launched a central policy q umificacion pretended to Spain, dictate the decrees of new plant q abolished the privileges of the Crown of Aragon, General Courts concvoco four times but only to ratify appointments, not for consultation or voting.Ferdinand VI (1746-1759): was absolute continuity of policy and reform agenda initiated q Babia the first Spanish Bourbon king. Policy of Ferdinand VI: foreign policy dedicated to recovering econpomicamente the country through a peaceful policy with the rest Europe, trade defense of the American colonies, has concluded agreements with Portugal. Domestic affairs: encouraging shipbuilding for naval shipyards and power Ferrol, Cartagena and Cadiz. Was raised by the implementation of many public works, roads, canals and ports, achieving the Concordat of 1753 for control of the church and attributed greater power. The illustration and in Cyclopedia: the rationalistic method of modern science was highly acptacion among intellectuals in Europe, especially France, which arises in the eighteenth century called illustration, throughout the eighteenth century they were known by the Cathedral. Enlightened Diderot and d’Alembert began work on the drafting of the encyclopedia, a dictionary of the sciences and arts q became the epitome of enlightened pnsamiento. It consisted of 28 volumes and began publishing in 1751. montequiu, Rousseau and Voltaire.The ilustradi in Spain: Despotism: an enlightened despotism way to govern outright. Carlos III (1769-1788) Dead King Ferdinand VI. His brother Charles II introns accedioal. His reign marked the fulfillment of enlightened despotism, which began its forerunner. Foreign policy: the war of independence from the U.S., took part x is not x soblevados and England. Charles IV Charles III was succeeded by his ijo Charles IV. His reign Etuve mediated x the French Revolution, q avia erupted only a few months later on his accession (1789)