throughout the world and opposed the progress of heresy. He used religious persecution and the Spanish Inquisition to eliminate resistance to his policy of centralizing power. He also used the full power of the Spanish Inquisition against Protestant groups in Spain. For example Philip believed it was his duty to defend Catholicism against the Muslims of the Ottoman Empire and the Protestants of Europe. So Philip launched the Spanish Armada in an attempt to punish Protestant England. He also raised taxes in the Netherland and took steps to crush Protestantism. To show his devotion to the church Philip poured a great deal of money into the palace El Escorial. (http://go.galegroup.com) Philip affected the politics of Spain by setting up a government bureaucracy that was involved in administering an empire as big as Spain was and it overwhelmed him and all those involved . On top of trying to govern a country as vast as Spain Philip insisted that he be consulted with every decision big or small. Philip slowed down an already difficult task by insisting that he be involved in every single decision in which he took forever to make. Also the corruption through the sale of offices that couldn't even do their job but had money weakened the system. He established regional governments with viceroys and a centralized government due to his belief in the divine right of an absolute monarch. He governed his scattered dominions through a system of councils, and their function was to discuss the incoming letters in a given area of responsibility. Philips constant foreign explorations and wars created a constant need of money. Philip never raised enough cash to cover his expedition and as a result had to declare state bankruptcies in 1557, 1560, 1576, and 1596. His weakness for grand projects also put Spain into serious economic difficulties,the Armada cost 10 million and the building of the Escorial cost 5.5 million. Inflation caused by raised prices due to Spains population growth and the decreased value of silver meaning it took increased amounts of silver to buy things created long-term economic problems for Spain. And Philips tyrannies alienated him from the goodwill of the Jews and the Moors(Muslims) losing many valuable artisans and businesspeople. Also Spain never developed a middle class due to the tax burden that fell on the lower classes. Philip II’s reign began the Golden Age, a period of great cultural growth in literature, music and the visual arts. The royal monastery built by Philip II, El Escorial, invited the attention of some of Europe's greatest architects and painters. Philip II has inspired artistic and cultural works, as the most powerful ruler in Europe during his time, and subsequently a central figure in the “Black Legend” of Spanish power. During Philip II’s rule, Spains social class consisted of peasants and nobles. There was no middle class due to the tax burden on the lower class. Peasants were poor and looked down upon by Spain while the nobles were treated fairly and had opinions that were heard throughout the poorly ruled country. Philip II died in the EL Escorial on September 13, 1598 of cancer. He was succeeded by his son, Philip III. King Philip II’s power was transferred hereditary to his living son, Philip III. Philip III took on the bankrupted Spain and all its debt when his father died. Most monarchs power is transferred to the person that overthrows them but that never happened to Philip II. He died of natural causes therefore his eldest son receives the throne. If i was a citizen of King Philip II’s realm i wouldn’t have supported him because he let his beliefs and desires get in the way of ruling a country. He involved himself in many wars because of his Catholic religion such as the Spanish Armada which began his downward slope of power. He spent the countries money on extravagant things such as his palace the El Escorial. And because of these things he put Spain in a state of bankruptcies for most of his reign. ( http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=RELEVANCE&inPS=true&prodId=GVRL.absmon&userGroupName=j101907012&tabID=T003&searchId=R2&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tPosition=1&contentSet=GALE%7CCX3409200354&&docId=GALE|CX3409200354&docType=GALE http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/suic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&prodId=SUIC&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&display-query=&mode=view&displayGroupName=Reference&limiter=&u=j101907012&currPage=&disableHighlighting=false&displayGroups=&sortBy=&source=&search_within_results=&p=SUIC&action=e&catId=&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CK1631005187 http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/phil2.htm McDougal Littell, World History: Patterns of Interaction Text Book)
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Philip II of Spain from the House of Habsburg, son of Isabella of Portugal and Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire. His first wife was Maria Manuela of Portugal, his second wife was Mary Tudor of England, his third wife was Elizabeth of Valois in France, and his final wife was Anna of Austria. He ascended the throne of the Netherlands on October 25, 1555 and he ascended Spain on January 16, 1556. He ascended the throne at the age of 29. His domain was in Spain and he established the court in Madrid although he ruled in Portugal for some time under the name King Philip I. Philip demonstrated his absolutism in his realm by insisting that every decision be made personally and privately by himself.
He believed in the divine nature of a ruler, he believed that having a strong say in all of the affairs of the empire despite its size and establishing a centralized government was important. Philip defended the the Catholic faith throughout the world and opposed the progress of heresy. He used religious persecution and the Spanish Inquisition to eliminate resistance to his policy of centralizing power. He also used the full power of the Spanish Inquisition against Protestant groups in Spain. For example Philip believed it was his duty to defend Catholicism against the Muslims of the Ottoman Empire and the Protestants of Europe. So Philip launched the Spanish Armada in an attempt to punish Protestant England. He also raised taxes in the Netherland and took steps to crush Protestantism. To show his devotion to the church Philip poured a great deal of money into the palace El Escorial.
(http://go.galegroup.com) Philip affected the politics of Spain by setting up a government bureaucracy that was involved in administering an empire as big as Spain was and it overwhelmed him and all those involved . On top of trying to govern a country as vast as Spain Philip insisted that he be consulted with every decision big or small. Philip slowed down an already difficult task by insisting that he be involved in every single decision in which he took forever to make. Also the corruption through the sale of offices that couldn't even do their job but had money weakened the system. He established regional governments with viceroys and a centralized government due to his belief in the divine right of an absolute monarch. He governed his scattered dominions through a system of councils, and their function was to discuss the incoming letters in a given area of responsibility. Philips constant foreign explorations and wars created a constant need of money. Philip never raised enough cash to cover his expedition and as a result had to declare state bankruptcies in 1557, 1560, 1576, and 1596. His weakness for grand projects also put Spain into serious economic difficulties,the Armada cost 10 million and the building of the Escorial cost 5.5 million. Inflation caused by raised prices due to Spains population growth and the decreased value of silver meaning it took increased amounts of silver to buy things created long-term economic problems for Spain. And Philips tyrannies alienated him from the goodwill of the Jews and the Moors(Muslims) losing many valuable artisans and businesspeople. Also Spain never developed a middle class due to the tax burden that fell on the lower classes. Philip II’s reign began the Golden Age, a period of great cultural growth in literature, music and the visual arts. The royal monastery built by Philip II, El Escorial, invited the attention of some of Europe's greatest architects and painters. Philip II has inspired artistic and cultural works, as the most powerful ruler in Europe during his time, and subsequently a central figure in the “Black Legend” of Spanish power. During Philip II’s rule, Spains social class consisted of peasants and nobles. There was no middle class due to the tax burden on the lower class. Peasants were poor and looked down upon by Spain while the nobles were treated fairly and had opinions that were heard throughout the poorly ruled country. Philip II died in the EL Escorial on September 13, 1598 of cancer. He was succeeded by his son, Philip III. King Philip II’s power was transferred hereditary to his living son, Philip III. Philip III took on the bankrupted Spain and all its debt when his father died. Most monarchs power is transferred to the person that overthrows them but that never happened to Philip II. He died of natural causes therefore his eldest son receives the throne. If i was a citizen of King Philip II’s realm i wouldn’t have supported him because he let his beliefs and desires get in the way of ruling a country. He involved himself in many wars because of his Catholic religion such as the Spanish Armada which began his downward slope of power. He spent the countries money on extravagant things such as his palace the El Escorial. And because of these things he put Spain in a state of bankruptcies for most of his reign. ( http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=RELEVANCE&inPS=true&prodId=GVRL.absmon&userGroupName=j101907012&tabID=T003&searchId=R2&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tPosition=1&contentSet=GALE%7CCX3409200354&&docId=GALE|CX3409200354&docType=GALE http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/suic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&prodId=SUIC&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&display-query=&mode=view&displayGroupName=Reference&limiter=&u=j101907012&currPage=&disableHighlighting=false&displayGroups=&sortBy=&source=&search_within_results=&p=SUIC&action=e&catId=&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CK1631005187 http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/phil2.htm McDougal Littell, World History: Patterns of Interaction Text Book)
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