Medieval Europe: Society, Economy, and Gothic Art
Cities and Medieval Kingdoms: The Rise of the Gothic
Technical improvements in agriculture and the clearing of new land provided increased food production and population growth during the Middle Ages. Settlements formed around fortifications, such as those located outside Burgos. The bourgeoisie, who lived within these settlements, eventually saw their towns grow, necessitating the construction of walls to encompass them. From the 13th century onward, an extensive network of cities developed throughout
Read MoreThe Galician Language: A Historical Timeline from 1900 to the Present
The Galician Language Between 1900-1936
Although political powers continued to oppose the complete recovery of languages other than Spanish, and it was absent from any official use in schools, this period saw some successes in the struggle for the retrieval of the Galician language. It seemed condemned to assimilation, but in 1906, the Real Academia Galega was founded. However, this was primarily at a symbolic level, as its practical work was minimal. One of the motivating factors was the high cultivation
Read MoreHabsburg Political System: Union of Kingdoms in Spain
The Habsburg Political Model: The Union of Kingdoms
Decentralized Governance Under the Castilian Crown
The political model of the Habsburg monarchy can be defined as a system governing different realms through a decentralized structure, under the primacy of the Castilian crown. This model was inherited from the Catholic Monarchs (RRCC). However, from the second half of the 16th century, kings settled in Madrid, establishing it as the capital. They surrounded themselves with a professionalized management
Read MoreKey Economic and Historical Terms of the 19th and 20th Centuries
Key Economic and Historical Terms
Economic Terms
Cartel: A temporary association between several companies in the same industry with the aim of eliminating competition and monopolizing the market.
Trust: A concentration or merger of several companies engaged in the same economic activity, creating a giant corporation. Its goal is to eliminate competition and dominate the market.
Holding: A finance company that controls the activities of other firms through the acquisition of all or a majority of their
Read MoreAbsolute Monarchy, Enlightenment, and the Rise of Capitalism
Absolute Monarchy
Absolute monarchy originated from the authoritarian monarchies of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. It substituted the political model of medieval feudalism, or feudal monarchy, that had been characterized by the disintegration of political power. Absolute monarchy is characterized by the concentration of large amounts of power in the monarch. During the seventeenth century, most European states implemented absolute monarchy. The chief representative of absolute monarchy was
Read MoreArgentina’s Unification: Cepeda, Pavón, and Economic Growth
Cepeda and the Path to Unification
In February 1859, Buenos Aires approved the Law of Retaliation in response to differential duties applied by the Confederacy. This action, influenced by foreign powers, increased the risk of war. The conflict ultimately led to a war between Buenos Aires and the combined forces of the U.S. ambassadors and Paraguay (Cepeda). Following the triumph of Mitre, Alsina’s resignation was imposed as a condition and accepted by the legislature of Buenos Aires. Mitre was subsequently
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