Final answer:
King Phillip II of Spain centralized the government by making all decisions himself and requiring the nobility to live in Madrid. This had a significant impact on Spain's government structure and the activities of the nobles.
Step-by-step explanation:
King Phillip II of Spain centralized the government by making all decisions, large and small, himself. He established a system where he read every dispatch from the kingdom and required a huge accumulation of paperwork. To supervise the nobility, he constructed a royal palace and required the greater nobility to build houses and live in Madrid, while the lesser nobles were to be housed by the people. This centralization had a significant impact on Spain as it created a bureaucratic government system and kept the nobles busy with court ceremonies, leaving them with little time to plot against the king.
King Philip II of Spain centralized the Spanish government during his 42-year reign, leading to a unified nation and direct control over colonial affairs, but also rigid bureaucracy.
King Philip II of Spain reigned from 1556 to 1598, a period marked by the consolidation and centralization of the Spanish government. His reign led to a unified nation, building upon the work of his predecessors, Ferdinand and Isabella. Philip II believed in the divine right of kings, which manifested in his direct involvement in all governmental decisions. With a strong sense of duty, Philip was known for his personal virtues, including dignity, sobriety, frugality, and religious devotion. He committed himself to a bureaucratic governmental structure, pouring over every piece of correspondence and keeping the nobility under close watch in Madrid through a meticulously constructed court life.
The centralized government of Spain under Philip II had several significant impacts. It strengthened royal control over colonies, as seen in the laws of 1573 for city planning in the Americas. This governmental approach carried over into how colonial society was structured, with patriarchal hierarchy and direct governance from Spain through appointed officials. His legacy, however, is a double-edged sword; while his centralization brought wealth and power to Spain, it also meant a rigid control that did not always adapt well to the needs of an expansive empire.