The Decline of Spain: A Historical Myth? (Grupo 2)
The piece published by Henry Kamen in Past and Present, which is entitled “The Decline of Spain: A
Historical Myth?” tries to refuse the traditional theory that Spain reached a
decadence period at the 16th century. Following his argumentation,
Spain never became a decadent nation, for the reason that it never rose.
Kamen stood for opening a new historiographic trend explaining that
Spain has ever been a dependent country –being dominated by the northern
European countries because of its economic weakness. Following this author,
Spain was in the Early Modern History a virtual colonial market for Europe. In
his opinion, the truthful designation for Spain is not declined but
undeveloped. He advocated that Spain was never able to use the potentiality of
its vast empire due to the northern countries’ pressure. His theory is based in
the work of the arbitristas, as well
as in the study of the Spanish economy and military power.
However, Israel believes that the Kamen’s argument is untenable, and
writes up this article refuting his main reasons. He follows the Kamen’s
guidelines in order to realize a critical study of his view.
First of all, he faces the argument of the arbitristas. Meanwhile Kamen said that these studious of the
Spanish situation did not mention the word decadencia,
and wrote about a gold age previous to the Catholic Monarchs, Israel argues
that they all actually contemplated their reality in terms of crisis or loss of
power and increase of the poverty.
About the decline of the imperial and military power there also are
disputes. Israel is not agreed with the consideration of Rocroy as the point of
rupture of the Spanish situation. In contrast to Kamen, he places the decline
to a previous time: the 1620s, the war against the Dutch, with the capital
point of Bergen op Zoom. Any other consideration gives too much gravity to the
French action, which is not reasonably keeping in mind its character of new
power.
On another hand, Kamen exposes the undeveloped economy of Spain as a
fact, but Israel does not share his opinion. He expound an argumentation on the
points of the population and urbanization growth until 1575, that became Spain
to one of the most urbanized countries in its time, and the great importance of
the manufactures, especially wool and silk, but also leather, paper or shipbuilding.
The comuneros rebellion is a
manifestation of this. Spanish manufactures were in danger and were not
sufficiently protected by the authorities, but they had a weight that refuses
the Spanish underdevelopment thesis. The bad situation that affected the principal
industrial producers in Europe permitted Spain to increase its importance,
although subsequently it was replaced by the new rising economies.
Nevertheless, Israel emphasises that, if the decline of the Spanish industries
began at 1595, there was not a total substitution until 1621. Since 1661, Spain
was actually dominated by foreigner capital and products.
Finally, Israel believe that can be reappraised the Kamen’s
argumentation which is based in a study of depopulation and agricultural
changes, that are considered as individual facts, detached to the economy.
Kamen also noted the great divergence between the scholars’ perspectives about
the dates and the periods, but it is unlikely the Israel’s postulates.
To put it in a nutshell, Israel is inclined to think the Kamen’s theory
as a well-developed and argargued work, that despite this cannot resist a thorough
investigation. Against Kamen, he defends the decline of Spain after a very
developed stage during Charles V and Phillip II.
Great, Jaime!!! Your article shows that a bilingual learning could be useful in our faculty...
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