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The Napoleonic Wars: A Watershed in Spanish History?

Author

Listed:
  • Leandro Prados de la Escosura

    (Universidad Carlos III and CEPR)

  • Carlos Santiago-Caballero

    (Universidad Carlos III)

Abstract

The Napoleonic Wars had dramatic consequences for Spain’s economy. The Peninsular War had higher demographic impact than any other military conflict, including civil wars, in the modern era. Farmers suffered confiscation of their crops and destruction of their main capital asset, livestock. The shrinking demand, the disruption of international and domestic trade, and the shortage of inputs hampered industry and services. The loss of the American colonies, a by-product of the French invasion, seriously harmed absolutism. In the long run, however, the Napoleonic Wars triggered the dismantling of Ancien Régime institutions and interest groups. Freed from their constraints, the country started a long and painful transition towards the liberal society. The Napoleonic Wars may be deemed, then, a watershed in Spanish history.

Suggested Citation

  • Leandro Prados de la Escosura & Carlos Santiago-Caballero, 2018. "The Napoleonic Wars: A Watershed in Spanish History?," Working Papers 0130, European Historical Economics Society (EHES).
    • Handle: RePEc:hes:wpaper:0130
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Leandro Prados de la Escosura & Carlos Álvarez-Nogal & Carlos Santiago-Caballero, 2020. "Growth Recurring in Preindustrial Spain: Half a Millennium Perspective," Working Papers 0177, European Historical Economics Society (EHES).
    7. Carlos Santiago-Caballero, 2013. "The Rain in Spain? Climate versus urban demand as causes of agricultural stagnation in eighteenth-century Spain," European Review of Economic History, European Historical Economics Society, vol. 17(4), pages 452-470, November.
    8. Simpson, James, 1989. "La produccion agraria y el consumo español en el siglo XIX," Revista de Historia Económica / Journal of Iberian and Latin American Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 7(2), pages 355-388, September.
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    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. The Economic Consequences of the Napoleonic Wars
      by guidoalfani in NEP-HIS blog on 2018-05-29 02:35:41

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    Cited by:

    1. Santiago-Caballero, Carlos, 2021. "The gender gap in the biological living standard in Spain. A study based on the heights of an elite migration to Mexico, 1840-1930," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).
    2. Santiago Caballero, Carlos, 2018. "Social mobility in nineteenth century Spain : Valencia, 1841-1870," IFCS - Working Papers in Economic History.WH 27620, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Instituto Figuerola.
    3. Carlos Santiago-Caballero, 2021. "Domestic migrations in Spain during its first industrialisation, 1840s–1870s," Cliometrica, Journal of Historical Economics and Econometric History, Association Française de Cliométrie (AFC), vol. 15(3), pages 535-563, September.
    4. Leandro Prados de la Escosura & Blanca Sánchez-Alonso, 2019. "Economic Development in Spain, 1815-2017," Working Papers 0163, European Historical Economics Society (EHES).
    5. Prados de la Escosura, Leandro & Rodríguez Caballero, Carlos Vladimir, 2020. "Growth, war, and pandemics: Europe in the very long-run," IFCS - Working Papers in Economic History.WH 30574, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Instituto Figuerola.

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    JEL classification:

    • E02 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General - - - Institutions and the Macroeconomy
    • F54 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - Colonialism; Imperialism; Postcolonialism
    • N13 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N43 - Economic History - - Government, War, Law, International Relations, and Regulation - - - Europe: Pre-1913

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