Surviving Spanish Empire

Spain was a declining power for many years prior to the Napoleonic wars. It reached its height say in the 16th century, but due to a shitty economy via silver imports was overtaken by the Netherlands and England in the 17th century.

By 1800, I think the declining Spain was a major reason for Sr. Bolivar et al to rise up. Spain could not compete with the UK and France at that time, who were the most powerful European states. TO answer then properly, I reckon it was inevitable for Spain to lose what is now Venezuela and other countries. The British and Spanish were allies in the wars, so it wouldn't have made sense for the British to not allow them their territories.
 

TFSmith121

Banned
Yep; the realities of the Enlightenment and the

Yep; the realities of the Reformation, Counter-Reformation, Enlightenment and the subsequent age of revolution are pretty difficult to overcome through "inspired leadership" by individuals in Europe, Spain included...

Cripes, Britain came close to imploding in the Seventeenth Century, and the British have the advantage of not having land borders with the rest of Europe...

In multiple contests between autocracy and nobility vs. populists and pluralists in (roughly) 1600-1900, the populists/pluralists generally came out on top; even those who held on (Russia, for example) ended up being swept away.

And of all the European imperial powers, expecting the Spanish to thread a needle the (for example) British could not, in terms of providing political rights to their overseas territories that would make up for the time and distance issues, and in an era where communications was by sailing ship, seems rather unlikely.

Best,
 
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