Spain - The Empire That Died of Wealth: How Gold Destroyed Spain

In the 16th Century, Spain found the largest source of silver in history: The Potosí mountain. They became the richest empire on earth overnight. But within a few generations, they were bankrupt. This is the true story of the Spanish Price Revolution, the first sovereign default in history, and how the Spanish Empire accidentally destroyed its own economy by printing too much money.

It is one of history's greatest paradoxes: How did the richest empire on Earth go bankrupt three times in a single century? In this documentary deep dive, we explore how the massive influx of gold and silver from the New World didn't save the Spanish Empire—it destroyed it.

We analyze the economic phenomenon known as the Price Revolution, where the flood of cheap money caused runaway inflation that decimated the Spanish middle class. We break down the "Resource Curse" (or Dutch Disease), explaining how the easy wealth from the Americas led Spain to neglect its own domestic industries, opting to buy foreign goods instead of producing them.

We also look at the massive sovereign debt crisis fueled by this "endless" revenue. From the expensive wars of Philip II to the eventual default of the imperial treasury, this is a cautionary tale of what happens when a superpower relies on currency debasement and foreign extraction rather than productivity. If you want to understand the dangers of unbacked money printing today, look at what happened to Madrid in the 16th century.


⚠ Disclaimer: This video was made using AI tools. It is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research before making investment decisions. Trading and investing involve risk.

Spanish Empire, Economic Collapse, Hyperinflation, History of Money, Potosi Silver Mine, Price Revolution, Philip II, Financial History, Gold Standard, Sovereign Default
#History #Economics #Spain #Gold #Inflation #Empire #Finance #Money