Water Resources, Environmental Challenges, and Conservation in Spain
Water Resources in Spain
E-farming, or irrigated agriculture, accounts for 80% of the total water consumption in Spain. While hydroelectric power generation and industrial energy demand, including thermal and nuclear power plant cooling, also utilize significant water resources, urban consumption accounts for only 14%. Spain is the third-largest consumer of water per capita in the EU. Traditionally, waste disposal has been carried out in rivers. The availability of water mainly comes from rivers,
Read MoreHistorical Trade Routes: Mediterranean, Indian Ocean & Beyond
Mediterranean Trade
The Nile civilization thrived along the river, which was a source of income (flooding) and communication, stretching from Alexandria to Ethiopia.
Phoenicia consisted of city-states like Tyre, Byblos, and Sidon in present-day Lebanon. They were primarily traders, acting as a liaison between the West and East, and established a network of colonies.
Goods:
- Imports: Iberian Peninsula (silver, lead, iron), Africa (gold), Egypt (wheat, linen, cotton), Malta (coral), India (textiles), Cyprus
Social Hierarchy, Exploration, and Reformation
Social Structure: Privileged and Non-Privileged Estates
Society was divided into privileged and non-privileged estates.
The Privileged Estates
The privileges included:
- Not working
- Not paying taxes
- Inheriting and owning titles and land
- Receiving rent
- Occupying important governmental positions
- Special laws
The Nobility
The nobility’s basis was not having to work. Their original function was to defend society, but only in times of war. In general, the high nobility consisted of Dukes, Counts, and Marquises. Below
Read MoreBourbon Reforms: Centralization, Society, and Economy in 18th Century Spain
II.2 – Bourbon State Political Organization
The arrival of the Bourbons to the Spanish throne initiated a process of centralization and political unification, beginning with the Decrees of Nueva Planta.
The Nueva Planta decrees abolished the privileges of the kingdoms of the Crown of Aragon (Valencia, 1707; Aragon, 1711; Mallorca, 1715; Catalonia, 1716). The elimination of these charters was possible after Philip V’s victory over those territories, which he considered rebellious. At this time, all
Read MoreGlobal Insights: India’s Revival, Sahara Greening, and More
India’s Economic Revival
The idea that India is a poor country is a relatively recent one. Historically, South Asia was always famous as the richest region of the globe. Ever since the great Greek conqueror Alexander penetrated the Hindu Kush in 329 B.C., Europeans fantasized about the wealth of these lands where precious jewels were said to lie scattered on the ground like dust. During the 17th century, the Indian Mughal emperors were rivalled only by their Ming counterparts in China. For their
Read MoreEconomic and Social Transformation: Industrial Revolution and Class Society
The Economic and Social Transformation
Between 1750 and 1850, two very different revolutions took place simultaneously in Europe: the French Revolution, which led to political transformation, and the Industrial Revolution, which brought about dramatic economic and technological changes. These revolutions had an enormous impact on society in this period, as well as in the decades which followed. In Great Britain, economic and technological advances resulted in the development of a more efficient system
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