Final answer:
The primary territories directly governed by Philip II as king of Spain from 1556 to 1598 included both Spain and the Netherlands. Philip II inherited a diverse and expansive realm and aimed to maintain Spain's hegemony in Europe and its vast colonial empire. The correct answer to the question is Option D: Spain and the Netherlands.
Step-by-step explanation:
The territories primarily governed by Philip II as king of Spain from 1556-98 included both spans in Europe and vast overseas possessions. As king, Philip II succeeded his father Charles V in 1556 and inherited a diverse empire. The primary territories under direct rule of Philip II were:
Kingdom of Castile and León with its dependencies, including modern-day Spain
Kingdom of Aragon with its dependencies, including parts of modern-day Spain and beyond
Naples and Sicily, which were part of the Spanish realms in Italy
The Spanish Netherlands, which covered areas of modern-day Belgium, Luxembourg, and parts of France
Portugal and its empire for a period after the 1580 Iberian Union
Despite ruling over various territories, the answer to the specific question regarding the primary territories directly governed by Philip II would be both Spain and the Netherlands (Option D), reflecting not just the Iberian territories of Castile and Aragon, but also the larger composite monarchy that included regions like the Spanish Netherlands.