Bourbon Absolutism and the French Revolution: Causes and End of the Old Regime
Bourbon Absolutism
The first Spanish Bourbons followed the example of their relatives and implemented the French model of absolute, centralized power. All power resided in the monarch, and the courts were rendered void. To govern, the king relied on a few advisors or secretaries appointed directly by the monarch, assembled in what became known as the council or cabinet of ministers. The Cortes disappeared, except for the Castilian one, and legislative work depended exclusively on institutions controlled
Read MoreThe Democratic Sexennium in Spain (1868-1874)
The Democratic Sexennium (1868-1874)
The 1868 revolution, known as La Gloriosa, was a military coup with popular support. Local and provincial groups, organized as Volunteers of Liberty, joined the movement. The revolution’s success stemmed from aligning with numerous interests and the conspirators’ promises, including the abolition of unpopular taxes.
However, after Queen Isabella II’s exile, the conspirators, including Serrano, Prim, and Sagasta, moved to halt the revolution. The new government
Read MoreSpanish History: From Charles IV to Alfonso XIII
Charles IV (1788-1808)
Charles IV halted enlightened reforms. Napoleon offered Manuel Godoy the throne of Portugal if Spain joined France against Portugal. Through the Treaty of Fontainebleau, Spain and France agreed to invade Portugal, but the French army occupied Spain, leading to the popular uprising known as the MotÃn de Aranjuez. Charles IV deposed Godoy and abdicated in favor of Ferdinand VII.
Joseph I Bonaparte (1808-1813)
Napoleon summoned Charles IV and Ferdinand VII to Bayonne, where they
Read MoreUnderstanding Modern Imperialism: Key Events and Concepts
Understanding Modern Imperialism
Modern imperialism usually refers to the attitude of some powers, principally in Europe, from the modern era to the decolonization process after World War II. More specifically, it refers to the Age of Imperialism, a period from 1871 to 1919, when there was a race to build empires, notably the division of Africa.
Key Events and Concepts
- Berlin Conference: Held from November 15, 1884, to February 26, 1885, in Berlin, called by France and England to address the challenges
Second Continental Congress: Key Events & Figures
The Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that started meeting in the summer of 1775 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, soon after warfare in the American Revolutionary War had begun. It succeeded the First Continental Congress.
Key Figures and Events
- George Washington: Selected to head the hastily improvised army in Boston.
- The Battle of Bunker Hill: A battle fought on June 17, 1775, during the Siege of Boston in the early stages
Ancient Greece: Polis, Democracy, and Athenian Life
Polis: City-States of Ancient Greece
Polis: city-states of ancient Greece.
Democracy: the power of the people, i.e., people could vote.
Oligarchy: the power of a few, that is, the kings and the rich.
Hellenic: Ancient Greece, united by language and religion, but without a single capital.
Geographic Framework
Location: Balkans, the Aegean Sea.
Relief: mountainous terrain hindered communication.
Climate: warm and dry.
Sea: supported fisheries and encouraged trade.
The majority of the population was rural.