Monarchies, Empiricism, and Transformations in 17th Century Europe

Monarchies in the 16th and 17th Centuries

Authoritarian monarchy emerged in the 16th century. The king concentrated all powers, but with some limitations, such as the participation of subjects in parliaments or courts.

Absolute monarchy arose in the 17th century. The king's power had no limits. Parliaments or courts ceased to exist. The king was seen as the direct representative of God on earth.

Mentees were people of absolute confidence of the king, who advised him in the affairs of government. In some cases, these 'valids' actually held the reins of power.

The reasons for this varied: in some cases, the issues of government were very complex and the king needed help from a sincere partner. In other cases, it appeared due to the apathy of kings who preferred a life of luxury and carefree living.

Empiricism and Rationalism

Empiricism is the method that suggests that the development of science must be based on the observation of reality and proceed from there, ready to be tested experimentally before approval.

Rationalism is the theory that advocates the use of reason to understand reality.

Transformations in 17th Century Europe

The 17th century in Europe marked significant transformations:

1. The international hegemony shifted from Spanish to French.
2. Authoritarian monarchy gave way to absolute monarchy, except in a few countries that adopted parliamentary systems.
3. Economic mercantilism was imposed.
4. The growth of the bourgeoisie began to undermine the foundations of estate society.
5. Religious tolerance was extended, and modern science and the Baroque style were born.

17th-century Europe was characterized by a decrease in agricultural production due to climatic anomalies, wars, and poor farming techniques. The expulsion of the Moors, who were skilled agricultural workers, and the abandonment of cereal cultivation also contributed to this decline.

The Thirty Years' War

The causes of the Thirty Years' War were the confrontation between the Catholic Emperor of Germany, who supported unity, and the main Protestant German states, eager for autonomy.

The consequences were that, after the defeat of Spain and the Emperor, the legal independence of the northern Netherlands and the recognition of religious tolerance were achieved. This was recognized in the Peace of Westphalia.

The End of Spanish Hegemony

After signing the Peace of Westphalia, which recognized the defeat of Spain, the war with France for hegemony in Europe continued. This war ended with another defeat for Spain, and the signing of the Peace of the Pyrenees (1659). This peace marked the end of Spanish hegemony in Europe and the beginning of French dominance.

Absolute Monarchs and Their Power

Absolute monarchs exercised their power in two ways:

1. Administration: They established a centrally directed administration from the court, where officials executed their orders throughout the territory and controlled finances and the military economy.
2. Divine Right: They were supported by some theorists of the time who claimed that the monarchy was a divine right, meaning the king's power came directly from God and he only had to answer to God.