Question

3. How did monarchs contribute to a cultural golden age in France and Spain? (1 point)

They encouraged citizens to attend ballet and theater performances.
They focused attention on religious art.
They spent large sums of money on the arts.
They paid writers to create new novels.

Answer 1

Monarchs in France and Spain contributed to their respective cultural golden ages by acting as patrons of the arts, financing and encouraging artistic expression that aligned with royal and religious ideologies.

Step-by-step explanation:

Monarchs played a significant role in the cultural golden ages of France and Spain by being great patrons of the arts. Spain's Siglo de Oro was marked by royal support for the arts, where the Habsburg monarchy financed the works of painters, sculptors, and writers, leading to a blooming of Spanish Renaissance culture. Monarchs such as Ferdinand and Isabella encouraged mysticism and religion within the arts, aligning with the Counter-Reformation. This resulted in exemplary works like 'The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha' by Miguel de Cervantes.

In France, King Louis XIV, known as the 'Sun King', centralized the government and used art and architecture to convey his power. This included the establishment of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts and the support of large public theatres. His endorsement of the arts was part of a broader strategy to assert the divine right to rule and consolidate absolute power.