1 A country in deep financial chaos. Philip III inherited a massive royal debt but continued to govern as if money was no object.
2 A country that had lost its sense of purpose. A country that was psychologically broken after the 1588 Armada disaster.
3 A country that was far from being a united entity.
4 A country that was no longer seen by other European countries as being a major player in European diplomacy.
5 A country that was failing to hold on to its empire.
6 A country that was not considered to be a military power.
7 A government that continued to act as if it was a major power but failed to see reality though this was probably the result of the king himself rather than others.