Question

Which of the following best helps to explain the economic and political decline of Spain during the seventeenth century?

a. The collective security measures implemented by Cardinal Richelieu in order to prevent the spread of Catholicism.
b. The extensive battles waged in the Iberian Peninsula between the imperial forces and various coalitions of Protestants.
c. The extension of the empire's commitments beyond its resources.
d. The advocacy of religious toleration by the Spanish rulers to promote the immigration of non- Catholic groups into Spain.
e. The secret treaty between England and France to embargo the ports of the Iberian Peninsula.

Answer 1

c. The extension of the empire's commitments beyond its resources

Step-by-step explanation:

Spain was a major European power during the 16th and early 17th centuries, with a vast overseas empire that included territories in the Americas, the Philippines, and parts of Europe. However, the country began to decline economically and politically during the 17th century, in part due to the fact that it had extended its commitments beyond its resources. The country was involved in numerous wars during this time, including the Eighty Years' War against the Dutch and the Thirty Years' War in Europe, which strained its resources and weakened its economy. In addition, the country's overseas empire was expensive to maintain and required a significant amount of resources to defend. These factors contributed to Spain's economic and political decline during the 17th century.