THE AUSTRIAS IN SPAIN: HISTORY AND IMAGE OF A DYNASTY

Universitat Permanent
Universidad Permanente
NAME OF THE SUBJECT: THE AUSTRIAS IN SPAIN: HISTORY AND IMAGE OF A DYNASTY
(16TH AND 17TH CENTURIES)
TEACHER:
Mª Luisa Álvarez y Cañas ............................................... (ml.alvarez@ua.es)
ACADEMIC YEAR: 2013-14
OBJECTIVES:
This subject has as its purpose to study one of the most significant moments in the History of
Spain, as it covers a stage of great importance for the first of the empires of that age: The Spain
where the sun never set in its territories.
The birth of the Hispanic Monarchy from the marriage between Isabel and Fernando leads to
analyse the inheritance of the Habsburgs, with the union of the kingdoms that constituted the origin
of the new Austrias House. Attention will be paid to the social, economic and political situation in
the peninsular kingdoms (territories) so that students can understand the functioning of
administration and politics in the new Modern States.
An overview is offered about the evolution of the Spanish Empire from its beginning, marked by the
splendour and political hegemony of figures such as Carlos I and Felipe II. Finally, we will deal with
its decadence process, which started during the reigns of Felipe III and Felipe IV and was
completed with the end of the Habsburg dynasty, after the death of Carlos II.
METHODOLOGY:
The working method for the study of “The Austrias in Spain: History and image of a dynasty (16th
and 17th centuries)” will be the presentation of the most outstanding events which took place in the
16th and 17th centuries, through lectures, with the continuous support of Powerpoint
presentations. Following the chronology, we will study the figure of each one of the monarchs
belonging to the Austrias (Habsburg) dynasty as a leit motif to understand the developments and
the most important social, political and economic events occurred during this period.
The theoretical contents are complemented with a set of materials of a different nature and the
projection of some documentaries or films that make it possible to discuss more specific issues
related to that period.
SYSTEM OF ASSESSMENT:
The assessment will be continuous, essentially valuing aspects such as attendance and
participation in class, but also with the small assignments that might be specifically given during
the course.
SUBJECT SYLLABUS:
UNIT 1: The Inheritance of the Habsburgs: The reign of the Catholic Monarchs: the union of the
kingdoms and the origin of the new dynasty
UNIT 2: Carlos I of Spain
UNIT 3: The Emperor Carlos V
UNIT 4: Society and economy in the Spain of the Austrias
UNIT 5: America: the overseas empire
UNIT 6: Felipe II and the government of Spain
UNIT 7: Felipe II and the Empire
UNIT 8: The reign of Felipe II
UNIT 9: Recession and reaction
UNIT 10: Felipe IV and Imperial Spain. The Great Crisis
UNIT 11: The government during the reign of Carlos II
UNIT 12: The end of the Spain of the Austrias
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BIBLIOGRAPHY:
• FERNÁNDEZ ÁLVAREZ, Manuel: Carlos V: (1500-1558), 2001, 676 págs.
• ANDRÉS VERDÚ, Rosario de: La España de Carlos V y Felipe II, 1999, 541 págs.
• PARKER, Geoffrey: Felipe II: la biografía definitiva, 2010, 1.383 págs.
• PÉREZ-BUSTAMANTE, Ciriaco: La España de Felipe III, 1979, 574 págs.
• FEROS, Antonio: El duque de Lerma: realeza y privanza en la España de Felipe III, 2002, 518
págs.
• ALCALÁ-ZAMORA, José N.: Felipe IV: el hombre y el reinado, 2005, 330 págs.
• ÁLVAREZ DE TOLEDO, Cayetana: La crisis de la monarquía de Felipe IV, 2006, 446 págs.
• CONTRERAS, Jaime: Carlos II el Hechizado: poder y melancolía en la corte del último
Austria, 2003, 357 págs.
• KAMEN, Henry: La España de Carlos II, 2005, 556 págs.
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY:
• FLORISTÁN IMIZCOZ, Alfredo: Historia de España en la Edad Moderna, 2004, 764 págs.
• MARTÍNEZ RUIZ, Enrique: La España moderna, 1992, 610 págs.
• BOUZA ÁLVAREZ, Fernando: Los Austrias Mayores: Imperio y Monarquía de Carlos y Felipe
II, 1996, 145 págs.
• LYNCH, John: Los Austrias menores: el mundo hispánico en 1600; el gobierno de Felipe III;
recesión y reacción; Olivares, Castilla y la España imperial; la gran crisis, 1640 y después; la
fiscalidad en el siglo XVII, 2008, 479 págs.
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