The Start Of The Modern World Flashcards
Who were the Catholic Monarchs?
Isabel I of Castilla and Fernando II of Aragón. They got married in 1469 and started to rule in 1479.
What were Isabella and Ferdinand like?
Fernando was strong, energetic, and a good diplomat. Isabel was intelligent, determined, and deeply religious.
How many children did the Catholic Monarchs have?
They had five children, including Isabel, Juana, María, Catalina, and Juan.
What kind of monarchy did Isabel and Fernando create?
They created an absolute monarchy with all power in the monarchs’ hands.
Is a dynastic union the same as a territorial union?
No, a dynastic union means two kingdoms remain separate with their own laws, parliaments, languages, and currencies.
Which was the capital city during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs?
There was no fixed capital city; the court traveled constantly.
Which territories did the Catholic Monarchs conquer in the Iberian Peninsula?
Granada in 1492 and Navarra in 1515.
How did the Catholic Monarchs ally with Portugal?
They established links with Portugal through their daughters’ marriages.
How did the Catholic Monarchs achieve religious unity?
By creating the Spanish Inquisition in 1478 and expelling Jews (1492) and Muslims (1499) or forcing them to convert.
What role did the Inquisition play?
It was created to try those suspected of heresy or crimes of faith.
What is the Diaspora and what are the Jews’ descendants called?
Diaspora refers to the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492. Their descendants are called Sephardic Jews.
What did Isabel do in Castilla to limit the power of the privileged?
She did not give more land to the privileged and limited their participation in advisory councils.
What was the Mayorazgo and who did it benefit?
It was a law that ensured the eldest son inherited titles and lands, preserving noble families’ power.
What did Fernando do in Aragón to restrict the local oligarchy?
He created the Sortition system and the Arbitral Sentence of Guadalupe (1486), abolishing feudal rights.
What medieval institutions did Fernando maintain?
He maintained institutions like the Cortes and the Diputación del General.
What were the ‘Malos Usos’ and when were they abolished?
They were feudal rights abolished by the Arbitral Sentence of Guadalupe in 1486.
What government institutions did the Catholic Monarchs create?
They created institutions like the Council of Castilla, Royal Audiencia, Royal Treasury, Santa Hermandad, Corregidores, and permanent Army.
What was the Cortes and what was its function?
The Cortes were assemblies for making laws but lost power; they were convened mainly for financial support or confirming a new king.
Which lands outside Iberia did the Catholic Monarchs conquer?
In Europe, they promoted alliances; in the Mediterranean, they took Naples and North African cities; in the Atlantic, they dominated the Canary Islands and supported Columbus.
Why did Europeans need to find new trade routes?
Because the Ottoman Empire blocked the eastern passage, forcing them to find new routes to access luxury goods.
Which technical advances allowed long trips to be done?
The compass, astrolabe, caravels, and portolan charts improved navigation.
Which trade routes did the Portuguese discover?
They sailed around Africa, reaching India in 1498 via the Cape of Good Hope.
What were the Capitulaciones de Santa Fe?
A treaty where Columbus was granted a tenth of the riches obtained from his voyage and the title of Admiral of the Ocean Sea.
What was Columbus’s mistake?
He underestimated Earth’s circumference and miscalculated the distance to Japan.
