The enlightenment in spain

5. THE ENLIGHTENMENT IN SPAIN ENLIGHTENMENT IDEAS IN SPAIN - The Enlightenment lacked the revolutionary aspect and political opposition that characterised the French experience.

- Spain adopted Enlightenment ideas by promoting the economy, culture and education.

- Carlos III applied important measures to stimulate economic development.

Enlightenment Thinkers - Feijoo - He was the most outstanding thinker ofthe first half of the 18th century in Spain - His work Teatro CrĂ­tico Universal played an important role in spreading the new ideas.

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Olavide, Campomanes and jovellanos: - They were important thinkers of the second half of the 18 th century - They wer involvedin politics - They tried to put their ideas about modernising the country into practice.

5. THE ENLIGHTENMENT IN SPAIN Enlightenment Institutions - Different institutions were created with the aim of spreading the new Enlightenment ideas and promoting economic and cultural development: - The societies of Friends of the Country promoted improvements in agriculture, trade and industry.

- Royal academies of language, history fine arts and others organised and disseminated knowledge.

5. THE ENLIGHTENMENT IN SPAIN ECONOMIC REFORMS 1.Industry - The government helped promote and improve the industry by founding royal factories (the tapestry factory in Madrid and the glass factory in la Granja) as well as diffeent art and trade schools.

2. Commerce - The trade monopoliy held by Sevilla and Cรกdiz ended, allowing other Spanish ports to trade with theAmericas.

- This was a step towards free trade with less goverment control 3. Transport - Ground and river transports were improved.

- A radial road network was built starting in Madrid.

- The castilla canal, an engineering project, helped to improve the traffic of goods.

4, Agriculture - State used physiocratic ideas to modernise agriculture.

- An important policy involved repopulating abandoned areas, such as the settlments in Sierra Moerna under Carlos III.