The defeat of 1714 signalled the end of the Catalan state and ushered in a period of severe repression that brought about great changes in the institutional structure of Barcelona.
In 1718 the population of the city was 37,000. The victors ordered 1,200 houses in the Ribera neighbourhood to be knocked down to make way for the construction of a military fortress. While this process of denationalization was taking place in Catalonia throughout the 18th century, Barcelona continued to expand. In 1770 there were 70,000 inhabitants, and in 1787, 95,000. By the end of the period under study, that is to say, until 1832, this figure had increased to 117,000. Construction work on the Barceloneta district began in 1753. Between 1714 and 1832, a decisive period for the future of the city, Barcelona underwent a transformation. The entire physiognomy of the city was changed. The first third of the 19th century was a time of intense urban modernization. In 1820, building work on the Passeig de Gràcia began. Barcelona became a magnet for immigrants, especially exiles from France. During the 18th century (starting in 1736) “industrial” centres were set up for the manufacture ofindianes, or patterned cotton fabrics. In 1796 there were 104 such factories with 3,048 looms providing work for 12,979 employees. In spite of the increase in agricultural production on the alluvial plain of the city’s hinterland, in 1763-64 and 1788-89 there were severe shortages of foodstuffs.
The 1789 food crisis gave rise to the famous rebombori del pa, or bread riots. Between 1739 and 1748 Barcelona’s commerce with the Americas via Cádiz, the port which held the monopoly on trade with the New World, continued to grow. In 1765, the port of Barcelona was designated the official point of departure for trade with America. The peace treaty signed in1785 by Carles III (Charles III of Spain) and the Great Turk enabled merchandise to arrive from China.
In 1718 the population of the city was 37,000. The victors ordered 1,200 houses in the Ribera neighbourhood to be knocked down to make way for the construction of a military fortress. While this process of denationalization was taking place in Catalonia throughout the 18th century, Barcelona continued to expand. In 1770 there were 70,000 inhabitants, and in 1787, 95,000. By the end of the period under study, that is to say, until 1832, this figure had increased to 117,000. Construction work on the Barceloneta district began in 1753. Between 1714 and 1832, a decisive period for the future of the city, Barcelona underwent a transformation. The entire physiognomy of the city was changed. The first third of the 19th century was a time of intense urban modernization. In 1820, building work on the Passeig de Gràcia began. Barcelona became a magnet for immigrants, especially exiles from France. During the 18th century (starting in 1736) “industrial” centres were set up for the manufacture ofindianes, or patterned cotton fabrics. In 1796 there were 104 such factories with 3,048 looms providing work for 12,979 employees. In spite of the increase in agricultural production on the alluvial plain of the city’s hinterland, in 1763-64 and 1788-89 there were severe shortages of foodstuffs.
The 1789 food crisis gave rise to the famous rebombori del pa, or bread riots. Between 1739 and 1748 Barcelona’s commerce with the Americas via Cádiz, the port which held the monopoly on trade with the New World, continued to grow. In 1765, the port of Barcelona was designated the official point of departure for trade with America. The peace treaty signed in1785 by Carles III (Charles III of Spain) and the Great Turk enabled merchandise to arrive from China.
The crisis at the end of the century, with wars against England (1779-83; 1796-1801; 1804-1808), and against revolutionary France, the so-called Great War (1793-95), and the subsequent Napoleonic invasion (1808-1814), all put a brake on industrial growth. The great transformation took place between 1814 and 1833. In 1829 there were 341 factories engaged in spinning, weaving and fabric printing. The city stood at the threshold of the industrial revolution.
It was during this period that the city experienced a surge of cultural, artistic, academic and scientific activity. With the death of Ferdinand VII of Spain in 1833, a new chapter in the history of Barcelona began. In that same year, 1833, Bonaventura-Carles Aribau published his poem Oda a la Pàtria ("Ode to the Homeland"), which is widely regarded as the springboard for the great Catalan movement of cultural, linguistic and political renewal known as the Renaixença(rebirth or renaissance).
Spanish monarchs who successively visited Barcelona during this time (Charles III, from October 17th to 22nd in 1759; Charles IV, in September, 1802; and the longest, by Ferdinand VII, from September 4th , 1827 to April 9th , 1828) were enthusiastically received by Catalans. Ferdinand VII signed an agreement with the industrial bourgeoisie in which they swore fidelity to the throne in exchange for protectionist privileges. In 1760, in an official memorandum of grievances, the same bourgeoisie had complained to the king then incumbent about the crown’s neglect of Catalonia.
It was during this period that the city experienced a surge of cultural, artistic, academic and scientific activity. With the death of Ferdinand VII of Spain in 1833, a new chapter in the history of Barcelona began. In that same year, 1833, Bonaventura-Carles Aribau published his poem Oda a la Pàtria ("Ode to the Homeland"), which is widely regarded as the springboard for the great Catalan movement of cultural, linguistic and political renewal known as the Renaixença(rebirth or renaissance).
Spanish monarchs who successively visited Barcelona during this time (Charles III, from October 17th to 22nd in 1759; Charles IV, in September, 1802; and the longest, by Ferdinand VII, from September 4th , 1827 to April 9th , 1828) were enthusiastically received by Catalans. Ferdinand VII signed an agreement with the industrial bourgeoisie in which they swore fidelity to the throne in exchange for protectionist privileges. In 1760, in an official memorandum of grievances, the same bourgeoisie had complained to the king then incumbent about the crown’s neglect of Catalonia.
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