The Enlightenment and the Old Regime in Spain: Key Historical Concepts

The Enlightenment Movement

An intellectual and ideological movement emerged in eighteenth-century Europe, based on rationalism (belief in the power of reason), utilitarianism, and the defense of education, the dissemination of scientific knowledge, and technical progress.

The reformists, known as the Enlightened, advocated for:

• Religious tolerance
• Freedom of thought and expression
• Opposition to inherited privileges
• Criticism of clerical power
• Censorship of the Church's excessive political and educational influence
• Rejection of superstitions and traditional prejudices

The introduction of enlightened ideas in Spain was slow and late, largely due to the lack of a thriving middle class and the resistance of ecclesiastical and aristocratic sectors. A primary concern for the Enlightenment was education and culture, viewed as the only means to overcome the country's backwardness. In this area, they faced the Church, which controlled education, and defended the need for useful and practical teaching, open to new sciences and talent from abroad. To promote scientific and educational development, they favored the creation of academies and institutions of higher education.

Features of the Old Regime

The term Old Regime designates the historical period preceding the French Revolution, the liberal revolutions, and industrialization. It spans from the late fifteenth century to the end of the eighteenth century.

In Spain, two dynasties held power during this period:

• The Hapsburgs
• The Bourbons

These dynasties played a key role in European history. From a political perspective, this era saw the birth of the authoritarian monarchy and its evolution toward absolute monarchy. This absolute power was influenced by the strong presence of the Church in public life and the existence of representative institutions at different levels.

From a social point of view, the Old Regime is characterized by a society of estates, defined by legal inequality. The society was divided into three distinct estates:

1. Nobility
2. Clergy
3. Commoners