Tordesillas Treaty, Renaissance Art, and Monarchies
The Treaty of Tordesillas: Dividing the World
The Portuguese claimed territories in America based on the Treaty of Alcaçovas (1479), which divided territories in the Atlantic Ocean between Spain and Portugal. The Catholic Monarchs also claimed that the territories discovered by Columbus were west of the Canary Islands, not south.
To resolve the conflict, the kings of Spain and Portugal signed the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494). This treaty divided newly discovered lands outside Europe using an imaginary
Read MoreFranco’s Spain: Single-Party Rule & Repression
The Creation of the Single Party: The Government of Burgos
From October 1936, unlike the Republican side, there was a single, uncontested military command, but no political cohesion. The rebels had prohibited all political parties that were part of the Popular Front in the territory they controlled, as well as all class unions. Only the Spanish Falange JONS, whose founding chief, Primo de Rivera, had been shot by the Republicans, and the Traditionalist Communion acted as political groups. CEDA and
Read MoreFrancoism: Characteristics, Supporters, and Evolution
Franco’s Dictatorship in Spain (1939-1975)
From 1939 to 1975, Spain was under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. He held the three powers of the state and command of the army until his death. He delegated the head of government position, first to Carrero Blanco and, after Blanco’s death, to Arias Navarro.
There are two main theories regarding Franco’s regime:
- The first denies its fascist character, arguing that it was strictly military and relied on traditionalism.
- The second argues that it was
Mughal Empire: Society, Governance, and the Non-Cooperation Movement
Akbar’s Respect for Interfaith Debates
Why did Akbar show high respect towards interfaith debates?
- Abdur Razzaq, a Persian ambassador, mentioned seven lines of forts. These encircled not only the city but also its agricultural hinterland and forests.
- The outermost wall linked the hills surrounding the city. The massive masonry construction was slightly tapered.
- No mortar or cementing agent was employed in the construction. The stone blocks were wedge-shaped, which held them in place, and the inner portion
Spain’s Restoration Era: Political Instability and Crisis of 1898
The Flawed Foundation of the Spanish Restoration
The formal constitution of the country and the social reality were starkly different. There was a significant gap between the 1876 constitution, technically acceptable, and the reality of a largely rural and illiterate Spain. This discrepancy led to a malfunction of the system, which was exploited by social forces to undermine the constitutional status.
The Mechanics of Power: Turnismo and Electoral Fraud
To rule required a double trust: the courts and
Read MoreEconomic Colonialism: Causes, Forms, and Consequences
Causes of Economic Colonialism:
- Europe faced a crisis of overproduction, and industry needed new markets.
- Political and ideological interests drove settlement: Britain sought strategic commercial enclaves, while France aimed for international recognition and prestige.
- Nationalist sentiment in Europe and the desire to impose Western culture on colonized peoples played a role.
- Population growth in Europe led to emigration as a response to pressure.
Forms of Colonialism
- Settler Colonies: Large numbers of