AQA · A-Level · History
Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017
How and to what extent did the economy and society develop and change?
Full specification wording
1B Spain in the Age of Discovery, 1469–1598 (A-level only) – consequence in this period through the following key questions:: How and to what extent did the economy and society develop and change?
This theme requires evaluating the transformation of Spain's economy and society between 1469 and 1598.
Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 3 of 6
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
This theme requires evaluating the transformation of Spain's economy and society between 1469 and 1598. Economically, you must assess the shift from a predominantly agrarian base, dominated by the Mesta (sheep-farmers' guild), to the complex impacts of New World bullion. While trade expanded through Seville, inflation (the Price Revolution) and heavy taxation stifled domestic industry. Societally, analyse the rigid hierarchical structure, the dominance of the nobility (Grandees), and the plight of the peasantry. Evaluate the extent of change: did the influx of wealth fundamentally alter social mobility and economic infrastructure, or merely entrench existing inequalities and fund foreign wars?
What earns the marks
- Assess the impact of the Mesta on agricultural development, land use and the stagnation of arable farming.
- Evaluate the economic consequences of the New World empire, specifically the influx of silver and the resulting Price Revolution.
- Analyse the social hierarchy, focusing on the entrenched privileges of the nobility and the limited social mobility for the peasantry and urban workers.
- Examine the extent to which economic policies, such as regressive taxation and royal monopolies, hindered long-term domestic industrial growth.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Assuming New World wealth uniformly benefited Spain.
Put it right: Recognise that bullion caused severe inflation and was largely spent on foreign wars rather than domestic investment.
Treating Spain as a unified economic entity.
Put it right: Highlight the distinct economic differences, separate treasuries and customs barriers between Castile and Aragon.
Overstating social mobility during the period.
Put it right: Emphasise that despite some new mercantile wealth, the social structure remained rigidly hierarchical and dominated by the traditional nobility.
Exam tips
- Use specific economic terms like 'Price Revolution', 'alcabala' (sales tax) and 'juros' (state bonds) to demonstrate precise subject knowledge.
- When discussing the 'extent' of change, explicitly contrast the dynamic growth in transatlantic trade with the stagnation of domestic agriculture.
- Structure essays to weigh evidence of economic development against evidence of structural stagnation to reach a nuanced conclusion regarding overall change.
Try the lesson
The start of the 1B Spain in the Age of Discovery, 1469–1598 (A-level only) – consequence in this period through the following key questions:: How and to what extent did the economy and society develop and change? lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which organisation held significant power over the Spanish agricultural economy during the sixteenth century by controlling the migration of sheep?
Listen
This theme requires evaluating the transformation of Spain's economy and society between 1469 and 1598. Economically, you must assess the shift from a predominantly agrarian base, dominated by the Mesta (sheep-farmers' guild), to the complex impacts of New World bullion. While trade expanded through Seville, inflation (the Price Revolution) and heavy taxation stifled domestic industry. Societally, analyse the rigid hierarchical structure, the dominance of the nobility (Grandees), and the plight of the peasantry. Evaluate the extent of change: did the influx of wealth fundamentally alter social mobility and economic infrastructure, or merely entrench existing inequalities and fund foreign wars? A strong answer earns marks for these points. Assess the impact of the Mesta on agricultural development, land use and the stagnation of arable farming. Evaluate the economic consequences of the New World empire, specifically the influx of silver and the resulting Price Revolution. Analyse the social hierarchy, focusing on the entrenched privileges of the nobility and the limited social mobility for the peasantry and urban workers. Examine the extent to which economic policies, such as regressive taxation and royal monopolies, hindered long-term domestic industrial growth. A common slip: Assuming New World wealth uniformly benefited Spain. Instead, recognise that bullion caused severe inflation and was largely spent on foreign wars rather than domestic investment. Exam tip: Use specific economic terms like 'Price Revolution', 'alcabala' (sales tax) and 'juros' (state bonds) to demonstrate precise subject knowledge.
Key words
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Social hierarchy and entrenched inequality
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The impact of imperial expansion on the metropole
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Regionalism and economic fragmentation
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See every definition
- Social hierarchy and entrenched inequality
- A rigidly hierarchical structure dominated by the traditional nobility, with entrenched privileges and limited social mobility for the peasantry and urban workers.
- The impact of imperial expansion on the metropole
- Bullion caused severe inflation and was largely spent on foreign wars rather than domestic investment, while transatlantic trade expanded through Seville.
- Regionalism and economic fragmentation
- Distinct economic differences, separate treasuries and customs barriers between Castile and Aragon, rather than a unified economic entity.
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