Organization of the Empire:
- The king ruled the empire, decided the foregin policy, led the army and raised taxes. However, he was helped by the following institutions:
➔ Parliament (or "cortes"). They passed new taxes and new laws. Each territory had its own Cortes.
➔ Councils: they adviced the king. There were territorial councils and others for specific areas. The State Council was the council which took important decisions for the whole Empire.
➔ Viceroy: who represented the king in different territories and governed in the king's name.
➔ "Chancillerías" and "Audiencias": they were the Supreme Courts of Justice.
➔ Chief Justice of Aragon: It guaranteed traditional rights.
The society continued being divided into three different estates:
➔ Nobility: There were two kinds of nobels:
--> High nobility: Landowners
--> Low nobility: Hidalgos
➔ Clergy.
➔ Common people: They paid taxes and performed productive work.

A

C