Old Regime to Liberalism: Key Transformations in Spanish History
The Old Regime vs. Liberalism: A Comparative Analysis
Political Systems
- Old Regime: Sovereignty of the king, divine origin, absolute power. Systems: absolute monarchy, enlightened despotism.
- Liberalism: National sovereignty, constitution, separation of powers. System: parliamentary monarchy, republic.
Social Structures
- Old Regime: Stratified society, separation by birth. Privileged nobility and clergy, unprivileged common people (Third Estate).
- Liberalism: Class society, separation according to wealth.
Urban Planning & Geographic Concepts
Agglomeration
A collection of urban settlements or areas. The boundaries between urban and rural are not always clear, but can be defined using three criteria: quantitative, qualitative, and psychological.
Metropolitan Area
An area which contains at least one city of 50,000 inhabitants, in addition to administrative divisions where more than two-thirds of their contiguous population is engaged in non-agricultural activities, or has a population density of at least half that of the urban core, or at
Global Trade and Transport Dynamics
Key Economic Definitions
Trade Fundamentals
Trade: Consists of the purchase and sale of goods to satisfy the needs of the population.
Trade Balance: The difference between what a country sells abroad (exports) and what it buys from other countries (imports).
Balance of Payments: A record of all economic transactions between a country and the rest of the world, encompassing material goods, financial services, and resources.
Information and Movement
Information Flow: Has become widespread with the advent
Read MoreSpain’s Economic and Social Evolution (1833-1875)
Economic and Social Transformation (1833-1875)
The Spanish Economy and Society
The evolution of the Spanish economy was characterized by its position, distinct from the industrialization processes seen in other European countries. This was largely due to the backwardness of Spanish agriculture, stemming from poor land quality and challenging weather conditions. Furthermore, liberal land reforms, including confiscations (desamortizaciones) and expropriations, consolidated private property. While these
Read MoreSpain’s Tourism Sector: Economic Engine and Societal Impact
The Global Phenomenon of Tourism and Spain’s Prominence
Tourism has become, in recent decades, a global phenomenon causing the yearly mass displacement of hundreds of millions of people worldwide. It serves as a significant source of income and employment for many countries. This activity also gives rise to specific landscape features and, in some cases, causes serious environmental impacts in areas with strong tourism pressure.
Spain stands as the second most visited tourist destination in the world,
Catalan Language Evolution: From Royal Chancery to Printing Press
The Royal Chancery: Architect of Medieval Catalan Language
The Royal Chancery was a pivotal institution responsible for managing the correspondence, letters, and archival documents of all administrations within the Crown of Aragon. Its officials were highly proficient in the official languages of the Chancery, adapting their usage based on the recipient. In the Catalan Countries, nearly all official documentation from notaries, courts, and other bodies was meticulously written in the official language
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