The Modern Age

When the feudal lords were subdued by the kings and the peoples and territories united to form great nations, a new era began, the Modern Age, which in Spain began with the Catholic Monarchs (15th and 16th centuries). During this time, kings try to build strong states with richer public treasuries.

Wars between states continue to cause huge expenses, but so do public administration, population growth, and urban growth. To pay for all this, the direct taxes paid by landowners were not enough; many indirect taxes had to be created, especially to tax consumption.

A tax was established on stamped paper for official documents and on the manufacture and sale of salt, lead, tobacco, etc. ( stagnant income ). Along with these resources, we must take into account the importance that the arrival of large quantities of precious metals (gold and silver) had in Spain after the discovery and conquest of America.

Furthermore, people became increasingly aware of the need to defend their rights. In Spain there was a very important popular revolt, that of the Comuneros of Castile (16th century), which was motivated, in large part, by the discontent over the new taxes that were established upon the arrival of Emperor Charles V.