John Locke: Architect of Modern Liberalism
John Locke: Architect of Modern Liberalism (1632-1704)
Historical Context and Influences
To understand the motivations and intellectual development of John Locke, it is essential to first examine the historical context in which he lived. Locke experienced struggles similar to those of Thomas Hobbes. A defining experience that was instrumental in shaping Locke’s ideological thinking was Cromwell’s dictatorship. One of Locke’s primary objectives was to avoid tyranny (in the modern sense) and preserve
Read MoreSpain’s Early 20th Century: Alfonso XIII to Primo de Rivera
Spain Under Alfonso XIII (1902-1923)
The reign of Alfonso XIII began in 1902, marking a period of significant political and social upheaval in Spain.
Economic and Social Conditions
Worker conditions remained very poor in the early 20th century. This led to the emergence of spontaneous protests by industrial workers, often met with repression. Early labor movements formed to protect workers’ rights, culminating in the first general strikes.
Maura’s Conservative Government (1907-1909)
Following political
Read MoreOrigins of World War II: Path to Global Conflict
Causes of World War II
The origin and nature of the First World War created a new international order after the Treaty of Versailles. The Treaty, by fostering a climate of animosity and humiliation between nations, sowed deep resentment. Many nations, like Italy and Japan, did not accept the impositions of Versailles and sought revenge.
The economic crisis of 1929 created a context of global depression, favoring the rise of fascist ideologies. Leaders like Mussolini in Italy and Hitler in Germany
Read MoreSpanish Workers’ Movements: Anarchism and Socialism (1874-1910)
The Genesis of Spanish Workers’ Movements
Anarchism: From Dissolution to Reorganization (1874-1881)
In 1874, a decree dissolved the Spanish section of the Workers’ International Association (AIT) following the coup by General Pavía. By 1881, a new political landscape emerged as anarchism was re-legalized under Sagasta’s government.
Key Outcomes of Anarchist Reorganization
- Geographically dispersed associations began to reorganize.
- The Spanish Regional Federation of Workers (FTRE) was established to address
History of Islamic Spain and Early Christian States
The Muslim Conquest of the Iberian Peninsula
In 711, a small group of Arabs and Berbers crossed the Strait of Gibraltar under the command of Tariq. Their intention was to loot and plunder. Having easily defeated the Visigothic King Rodrigo at the Guadalete in 711, they continued their advance.
The Peninsula offered little resistance and was quickly occupied. The causes were Muslim military superiority, internal conflicts of the Visigoths, and support offered to the invaders by Jews and Visigothic
Read MoreRussian Revolution and Soviet Union Formation
The Russian Revolution and the Creation of the USSR
At the beginning of the 20th century, Russia was an absolutist monarchy that lacked individual freedoms. In November 1917 (October according to the Russian calendar), a popular revolution led by workers, peasants, and soldiers took place. The Russian Revolution began in Petrograd with the storming of the Winter Palace, overthrowing the absolute monarchy of the Tsar. The revolutionaries, led by Vladimir Lenin, established communism and aimed to transform
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