Son of Charles V. Inherited Spain, the Spanish Netherlands, and the American colonies. Put together a Spanish Armada and attempted to conquer England for being protestant.Was defeated.

Waged war against the Netherlands as well because they embraced religious freedom. After the Dutch drove out spanish troops, the Netherlans declared their independance from Spain.

In 1566 angry Prtoestant mobs swept through catholic churches and destroyed religious paintings and statues. Spain sent an army to punish them, killing 1,500 protestants and rebels. 

William of Orange took power over the government, fighting for political motives. The Dutch, whom were mostly protestant and embrace dreligious freedom, flooded out Spanish troops from their camps.

Army of 50,000 soldiers.

250 Spanish and Venetian ships.

• Inflation and taxes. (Taxed the poor)
• Spain's Enemies become rich. Spain borrowed and spent money with other countries, giving their wealth away and often going bankrupt.
• The Dutch Revolt

a 1598 declaration in which French King Henry IV promised that protestants could live in peace in France and could set up houses of worship in some French cities.

The theory that a country's power depended mainly on its wealth.