17th Century Europe: Transformations, Conflicts, and Politics
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Transformations in the 17th Century
Political Transformations
International confrontations and a decline in Spain's hegemony in Europe.
Economic Transformations
The rise of commerce.
Social Transformations
Society of the three estates: Bourgeoisie.
Cultural and Artistic Transformations
The 17th century witnessed the birth of modern science.
European Conflicts
The Thirty Years' War
A conflict in Germany between the Catholic emperor and the Protestant German princes became an international affair. The emperor received support from Spain. German princes were backed by Spain's major enemies: France, Sweden, Denmark, and the United Kingdom.
The Franco-Spanish War
France and Spain continued fighting until the final years of the following decade. Having been defeated at the Battle of the Dunes, Spain signed the Treaty of the Pyrenees. In this treaty, Spain ceded the Catalan territories north of the Pyrenees to France.
Political Systems
The Authoritarian Monarchies
The power of the state was controlled by the monarch alone. The theory of the divine origin of their power and centralized administration: civil servants who ensured that the monarch controlled the economy.
The Parliamentary Systems
England was the best example. Attempts to introduce absolute monarchy met with opposition from the English Parliament. The Bill of Rights obligated the king to obey laws approved by Parliament.
Mercantilism
Most European states adhered to the principles of mercantilism, an economic theory. The quantity of precious metals, state intervention in the economy, and the conquest of new markets.
The Monarchs and Their Validos
The junior branch of the House of Austria, Philip III, had a weaker personality than their predecessors. He delegated the task of government to individuals known as validos.
The Political Crisis
Philip III maintained hegemony. International policy was focused on peacemaking. In the international sphere, defeat at Rocroi and the treaties of Westphalia and the Pyrenees marked the decline of the monarchy. In the domestic sphere, the Count-Duke of Olivares tried to implement a centralized administration.