Spanish Enlightenment

The Spanish Enlightenment (Spanish: la Ilustración española) was an 18th-century intellectual and cultural movement that was part of the broader Western Enlightenment.

The ideas of the Enlightenment came to Spain with the new Bourbon dynasty, following the death of the last Habsburg monarch, Charles II, in 1700. The Bourbon rulers focused on centralizing the power of the Spanish government and improving infrastructure, starting with the rule of King Charles III and his minister, José Moñino, count of Floridablanca. The government made changes called the Bourbon reforms to help the overseas Spanish Empire grow stronger for Spain.

The Spanish Enlightenment wanted to grow scientific knowledge, encouraged by Benedictine monk Benito Feijóo. From 1777 to 1816, Spain paid for scientific trips to learn about plants in its empire. When Prussian scientist Alexander von Humboldt wanted to make a scientific trip to Spanish America, Spain allowed it and helped him.

The Spanish Enlightenment also influenced the Spanish American Enlightenment, especially at first, with elite men from Spanish America taking part. But over time, ideas in Spanish America changed based on their own situations.

The Napoleonic invasion of the Iberian peninsula caused big problems for Spain and its empire. Ideas from the Hispanic Enlightenment helped shape the Spanish American wars of independence, though the story is more complicated.

Historical background

Main article: History of Spain (1700–1808)

The Bourbon family took control of Spain after the last king from the Habsburg family, Charles II, died in 1700 without any children to take over. After a big war called the War of the Spanish Succession, the Bourbons began leading Spain. They worked to make Spain stronger again.

During this time, new ideas from the Age of Enlightenment spread to Spain and its colonies in Spanish American Enlightenment. Even though these ideas sometimes went against the church, Spain and its colonies still held strongly to their Roman Catholic beliefs. Later, when French forces led by Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Spain and put Napoleon’s brother on the throne, this caused big problems. In response, leaders in Cortes of Cádiz created a new constitution in 1812 to limit the power of the king and the church. However, when King Ferdinand VII returned to power in 1814, he went back to ruling without limits. Meanwhile, many parts of Spain’s colonies in America started fighting for their freedom and became independent countries. Only New Spain (Mexico) and Peru stayed under Spanish rule until 1821 and 1824. Mexico even tried to keep a monarchy under Agustín de Iturbide before becoming a republic in 1824 under the Constitution of 1824.

Development

The ideas of the French Enlightenment came to Spain after the Bourbon dynasty took power in 1715, ending the War of the Spanish Succession. Spain changed its government slowly, keeping its old ways of ruling.

One important Spanish person was Benito Feijóo (1676–1764), a monk and teacher. He shared ideas that helped people think and learn more about the world. He wrote about the need for Spain to focus on science and learning.

During this time, European kings were taking more control. In Spain, ideas from the Age of Enlightenment arrived around 1750. These ideas were about improving health, science, and the country’s strength. French and Italian visitors shared their thoughts, but Spain’s strong religious traditions stayed mostly the same.

A key leader was Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, a minister who talked about studying laws and history. He was concerned that too much land was owned by rich families and the church, leaving many people without land.

Some historians think King Charles III did not care much about these new ideas. His main goal was to strengthen the monarchy and control education.

Science and religion

The Enlightenment encouraged learning through science, which sometimes clashed with religious beliefs. The Spanish Inquisition had the power to stop books and ideas it did not like. Even so, many new ideas still reached Spain. Writers like Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Adam Smith were read by clever people in Spain.

A big earthquake in Lisbon in 1755 made people wonder if it was a sign from God or just a natural event.

Scientific expeditions and scientific institutions

The Spanish government sent out many trips to learn about nature and science. Foreign scientists were allowed to explore Spain’s lands. Big trips went to Chile and Peru (1777–88), New Granada (1783–1816), and New Spain (1787–1803). These trips collected many plants and drawings for museums in Madrid. One famous trip was the Malaspina Expedition from 1789 to 1794, led by Alejandro Malaspina. Artists on the trip made many pictures of plants, places, and people. The government also sent a trip in 1804 to help people in its lands stay healthy.

New institutions

Spain created many places to support learning. Early ones included the National Library (1711), Royal Spanish Academy (1713), and the Royal Academy of History (1738). Later, places like the Royal Botanical Gardens (1755) in Madrid were built to hold the plants collected on trips. In Mexico, the School of Mines (1792) was created to learn more about mining silver.

The Archive of the Indies was started in Seville in 1785 to keep important papers about Spain’s lands beyond the sea.

Architecture

Buildings in Spain began to follow a simpler, neoclassical style. The Palacio de Minería in Mexico City was built in this style by architect Manuel Tolsá. Madrid also saw new neoclassical buildings, such as the Prado Museum, designed by Juan de Villanueva.

Literature

Spanish literature from this time was different from the styles before and after it. Important writers included Feijoo and Jovellanos.

Influence on the Spanish American Enlightenment

The Spanish Enlightenment helped shape the early Spanish American Enlightenment. Over time, thinkers in Spanish America started to explore new and different ideas.