Theory Of Philip Ii, The Cause Of The Spanish Empire By Turn Tide

Around1500s, Human history entered a new turning period. With the great geographical discovery and colonial expansion, Spain became advanced and prominent at that time, but short-lived, Spain had been declined, which was from a world-class power into a second-rate country in Europe after Philip Ⅱ died in1598. What caused the decline of the Spanish empire so quickly? It has a lot of reasons.The first chapter mainly discusses the political reasons. There are three main reasons. Firstly, the Spanish Empire internal organization was very loosely, the development of the monarchy was actually quite limited. Secondly, Spain retained a large number of feudal remnants and represented the benefits of the big nobles and Catholic priests, political structure was relatively rigid and primitive. Finally, in order to maintain their own benefits, the ruling class implemented a series of self-destructive economic and religious policies.The second chapter analysis the economic reasons. The second half of the sixteenth Century, the Spanish domestic agriculture, handicraft industry, and commerce declined generally; the price revolution struck Spanish economic development further; The country was in a very disadvantageous surplus in the foreign trade, the wealth out flowed largely; in addition, fiscal deficits and bankruptcy. Spanish economy was immersed in a decline cycle.The third chapter mainly discusses the harm of Spanish war inside and outside. War is a national priority, which relates with the country’s rise and fall. In the reign of Philip Ⅱ, the country had only six months of peace, the other time was in wars. War was a kind of consumption, finally, Spain exhausted its national power due to so many enemies.The fourth chapter is from religious and social aspects. Catholicism was the soul of Spanish empire, in order to create the pure Catholic country and maintain the Catholic supreme authority, its negative effects came out gradually, making empire take too much responsibility and burden.In addition, amounts of bad phenomena appeared in domestic society, which eroded the foundations and rules of the empire further.In all, the political, economic, military, religious and social factors caused the decline of Spanish empire, which had very profound effects on the modern and contemporary Europe and The world. It provides good historic materials for us to study the rise and fall of great powers. The rising China can also absorb the valuable experience.