The heyday of the Spanish Empire was undoubtedly the first half of the reign of Philip II. The Spanish Empire, inherited from Charles V, was a symbol of Philip II's power. At this time there were many European territories and American colonies in the Spanish Empire. Not only this, the Spanish Empire was self-evident as the prestige of the Hapsburg dynasty in the whole of Europe. Despite all this, the decline of the Spanish Empire started from the latter part of the reign of Philip II and with the death of Philip IV in 1665, the pride of Spain disappeared in European politics. In short, the main causes of the decline of the Spanish Empire can be indicated as follows:
1. Structure of the Spanish Empire
The vastness of the Spanish Empire undoubtedly proved fatal to its downfall. Under his sphere of influence were many European countries, American colonies and the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, there was considerable disparity in the states that came under the Spanish Empire in culture, language, religion, governance, ethnicity, customs, traditions and historical etc. On the one hand this was the situation and on the other hand the form of the empire was not national but dynastic. Therefore, from time to time various problems used to arise in the empire. Religious reform movement, French-Spanish war, aggressive policy of Turks, anti-Spanish policy of England and rebellion of Netherlands were similar problems.
2. Unfit successor of Philip II
The reign of Philip II's son Philip III (1598–1621) proved to be a period of economic misery. The biggest reason for this was that he became a toy in the hands of his dear ones. He himself was also an inept and weak ruler. The period of Philip IV (1621-1665) was scorched in the wraps of the Thirty Years' War, he himself was unfit, as well as the independence struggle of the Dutch and the Portuguese challenged the Spanish Empire. Undoubtedly, his period was the period of the end of the sun in the form of the Spanish Empire. The period of his successor Charles II (1665–1700) is known as the period of 'Dynastic Anarchy' in the Spanish Empire. Charles II was an inept and weak and short-sighted ruler. In this way, after Philip II, the Spanish Empire did not get the leadership of any capable ruler, who would have given relief from the terrible calamities coming to the Spanish Empire. Therefore, this statement seems to be true that, "Charles V was a great warrior and ruler. Philip II was only a ruler. Philip III and Philip IV were not even rulers, and Charles II (born of Philip II's second wife) was not even a human being."
3. Economic Desperation of Spain
Due to the deterioration of the economic condition of Spain, there were terrible expenses and wars of the monarchy. It is true that colonies were needed for Spain to strengthen its economic position at this time and a wealth-rich colony like America was in the possession of Spain, but with the aim of establishing Spanish dominance in European politics, Charles V and Philip II Tried their burden was too heavy. The people of the royal court and dynasty used to waste money in enjoyment and luxury. It was never justified from the economic point of view to expel business-skilled Jews and Moors from Spain. The condition of agriculture was also very pathetic. Most of the land was dominated by the church or feudal lords. He never thought about the progress of agriculture.
4. Policy of religious intolerance of the Spanish rulers
The Spanish rulers were Catholic. He always tried to make Catholicism a European universal religion. For this purpose, the repression of Catholic opponents was done mercilessly. Religious courts called 'Inquisition' are a clear proof of this. Therefore, the path of independent thinking and scientific ideology got blocked. This was the reason that Spain fell far behind in cultural and legal terms compared to other nations of Europe, which proved to be an important reason for the decline of the Spanish Empire.
5. Lack of strong navy
Spain's army was very strong, but to maintain its supremacy in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Sea, it was necessary for Spain to strengthen its navy as well. The Spanish rulers never seriously considered the development of a strong navy. Philip IV once formed a powerful Armada to take on England, but the defeat of the Armada put a question mark on the power of the Spanish Navy. On the contrary, the naval forces of Spain's main rivals France and England kept getting stronger day by day. Spain would certainly have succeeded in suppressing the rebellion of the Netherlands if its navy was strong.
6. Population Decline
In the first phase of the sixteenth century, there was a huge decrease in the population of Spain. Spain's loss of life in long-term wars, expulsion of Jews and Moors from the country and migration of Spaniards to colonies were the important reasons for this. Rapid decline in population proved very fatal for Spain from the social and political point of view.
7. Other important reasons
In addition to the above reasons, Spain's defeat in the Thirty Years' War, French ruler Louis 14th's empire expansionist policy, England's colonialist policy and England and Holland's move towards monopoly in the naval sector proved to be important factors for the downfall of the Spanish Empire.
In this way, it can be assumed that the vastness of the Spanish Empire and the inefficient policies of the Spanish rulers created many contradictions in the Spanish Empire. These contradictions had a direct impact on the political, social, economic, religious and cultural situation there. This effect proved to be negative, which was taken full advantage of by the Spanish rivals, France and Holland, and attacked the Spanish Empire. The inept successors of Philip II of England proved incapable of withstanding this blow. Therefore, in such a situation, the fall of Spain was inevitable and an era began whose leadership went into the hands of France.
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