Despite the power of the Spanish Empire on the territories of its colonies, the scope and strength of its influence started to decline in the 17th century. Such a deteriorating process was triggered by a variety of factors, including the political, social, economic, and trade spheres. Overall, the decline of Spain’s power contributed to the liberation moods in the colonies, ultimately paving their way to independence.
Firstly, the lack of assets and the problems with the economy deteriorated Spain’s ability to compete in trade and invest in the colonized territories. Secondly, the weakening political regime in the Empire, marked by the lack of influential power of the kings who ruled during the 17th century, provided the colonies with the opportunity to claim their liberties through riots and wars (Elliott, 2006). Similarly, the political weakness of Spain in this period ignited wars with France and Britain over the territories in the Americas (Elliott, 2006). The defeat in these wars further worsened the decline, ultimately allowing the colonies to liberate themselves from the rule of the Spanish Empire. For example, the Netherlands’ revolution and its liberation ignited consecutive independence-directed moods in the colonized territories (Elliott, 2006). Thus, the decline of the Spanish Empire was caused by a variety of factors, the collision of which cost Spain its global influence.
In conclusion, the decline of the Spanish Empire in the 17th century was a result of its unstable political atmosphere and its hectic economic situation. Indeed, the problems of monetary support to maintain the Empire after the colonization burdened the Empire’s economy and weakened its ability to control the colonized territories. Moreover, the political unrest manifested through wars with other empires diminished Spain’s resilience and contributed to its failure as an Empire.
Reference
Elliott, John Huxtable. 2006. Empires of the Atlantic World. New Haven: Yale University Press.