070144 SE Research Seminar - The Spanish Monarchy - The First Global Empire? (2024W)

The Spanish Monarchy, founded under Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon in the second half of the 15th century, was the first universal monarchy. Its kings ruled not only the territories that now make up the Spanish State, but also many other places located in Italy (Sardinia, Sicily, Naples, Milan), in the Netherlands (the current states of the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and part of France), in the lands conquered from 1492 onwards in the Americas and the world of islands in the Pacific Ocean and the Philippines. In addition, in 1581 and under the reign of Philip II, the territories of the Kingdom of Portugal were added to this Monarchy with all its possessions in Africa and Asia. Thus, the Spanish Monarchy became the first global system in history. In the research seminar we will discuss all aspects of this “composite monarchy”, where the different territories maintained their characteristics, laws, and institutions in their own independent way until the War of the Spanish Succession, which took place at the beginning of the 18th century after the death without descendants of Charles II.