Liberal Capitalism and the Industrial Revolutions: A Socioeconomic Analysis
Liberal Capitalism: Theoretical Foundations
Classical School of Thought
Economic liberalism forms the bedrock of liberal capitalism. Its principal theorist, Adam Smith, along with David Ricardo and John Stuart Mill, constituted the core of the classical school. Adam Smith (1732-1790), in his seminal work, The Wealth of Nations, championed individual prosperity as a catalyst for national enrichment, prioritizing private interest. He advocated for minimal state intervention in the economy, believing
Read MoreFrom Agrarian Revolution to Modern Industry
The Agrarian Revolution (200 years)
What is it?
- Machinery
- Fertilizers
- Plant rotation (fallow land) does not deplete the soil & increases productivity, leading to higher production and lower mortality. Consequently, there’s more work and rural exodus.
| Population Engaged in Agriculture | Techniques Used | Productivity |
|---|---|---|
| Developed Countries | Less than 5% of the active population | High, thanks to technical progress |
| Underdeveloped Countries | 80% of workers | Low, insufficient to meet nutritional needs |
Fishing
| Location | Fishing |
|---|
Social and Labor Transformations in 19th Century Spain
Social Change
Population Growth
A constant observed in Spanish society since the late 18th century is the demographic shift from the center to the periphery. This movement can be attributed to the economic disparity between these zones. While the peripheral areas, especially in the north, experienced stronger economic growth, the central regions faced increasing economic stagnation.
Several factors contributed to this demographic phenomenon:
- Economic growth in coastal areas.
- Depopulation of the central
Transport in Spain and Its Role in Land Organization
Unit 17: Transport in Spain and Its Role in Land Organization
17.1 Transport: Basic Elements of Territorial Organization and Economy
Transport is the activity that moves people and goods between two or more geographic locations. The transport system is the way in which transport takes place: land, sea, or air. Each transport system requires specific transport or moving parts (cars, buses, trucks, trains, boats, or aircraft) and fixed infrastructure for the movement (roads, highways, rail lines, ports,
Spain’s Fisheries and the EU Common Fisheries Policy
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
Objectives
- Increase productivity
- Raise farmers’ living standards
- Stabilize markets
- Guarantee supply
- Prevent high consumer prices
Methods
- Eliminate customs duties
- Prioritize European products
- Establish the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF)
1991 CAP Reform
Upon Spain’s 1986 entry into the European Economic Community (EEC), the CAP’s high costs (two-thirds of the EU budget) led to reforms in 1991, aiming to:
- Reduce agricultural spending
- Maintain farmer production
Prehistoric Iberian Peninsula: From Paleolithic to Roman Conquest
1. The Paleolithic Era
Lower Paleolithic
In the Sierra de Atapuerca (Burgos), new discoveries have challenged established theories. In 1994, the Gran Dolina chasm revealed remains dating back 780,000 years, with further findings pushing the timeline back to 1,200,000 years. These represent the oldest hominid remains found in Europe, distinct from Homo erectus. A new hypothesis proposes that Homo antecessor, discovered in Atapuerca, served as an intermediate link between Homo erectus and the two species
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