What are Guilds?

“Bird of the same feather, flock together.”

10 Things to Know About Queen Isabella II of Spain

Queen Isabella II reigned in a tumultuous century for both Europe and Spain. Thrusted into politics as a toddler, she grew up to controversial monarch. Here are 10 things to know about Queen Isabella II of Spain.

Spain's Controversial Queen Isbella II

While Queen Victoria enjoyed a nation riding high in imperial glory, her contemporary in Spain found her nation in disarray, plagued by political instability. Thrust into the position at a young age, others ruled on her behalf. She  must find her position and role in the country or face dire consequences.

Doc Recap: Prime Minister Mendizabal's Decree of Disentailment of Regular Clergy

In 1836, then Spanish Prime Minister Juan Alvarez Mendizabal unleashed his decree that targeted the privatization of lands owned by religious orders with the aim of winning the ongoing Carlist War and improving agricultural production as well as overall economic situation.

Desamortizacion and the Mendizabal Reform

David Ringrose said “the way in which access to land is defined, and the social constraints imposed on its use, play a major role in the modernization process of any country.” Spain in 1836 underwent a land reform under its Prime Minister Juan Alvarez Mendizabal which many hailed as a “revolution.” But was it such an event worthy of the praise it received in many studies of Spain’s industrialization? How did it affect Spain?

Juan Alvarez Mendizabal