Political Changes during the Renaissance (1450-1750)

Rise of the Nation State No formal states (countries)existed in 1400 anywhere in the world Feudal system: Dominant political system throughout the middle ages in Europe and Asia (Japan) Prior to the Renaissance Europe was a collection of 350 feudal states By the 21st century this changed to 40 nation states

Causes for Change War, confusion and chaos during 14th and 15th too much for feudal lords to handle. Rise of the middle class more money and power to merchant peasants meant that the feudal lords were out powered Political Nation State begins Divine Right & the monarch became absolute. Centralization of govt.  A centralized government = more stability (and less free) than a feudal govt. 

The Holy Roman Empire (800-1871) “The Holy Roman Empire - not Holy, not Roman, and not an Empire.” Voltaire almost 300 semi-sovereign parts, over which an emperor ruled with little authority. HRE did not establish a centralized govt Charles I of Spain (V of HRE) Member of the Habsburg family King of both Spain and the HRE (along with the Netherlands, Austria, and Naples, and Spanish America)

Spain (1469) Major Events of Ferdinand and Isabella: 1474-1516: Unification of Spain into a nation state Unification of the kigdoms of Castile and Aragon The Discovery of the Americas (1492) by Christopher Columbus. The Reconquista in 1492: The expulsion of the Muslims and Jews from Spain The Spanish inquisition: forced conversion of Jews to Catholicism If Jews did not convert they were expelled from Spain

England Bakcground Settled by Anglo-Saxons Christianized in about 450 Conquered by Vikings in 700s Conquered by Normans in 1066 (remember William the Conqueror) Feudal until 1485 Running feud with France because Normans are French and the English are Anglo

England United in 1485 100 Years War (1337-1453) with France forced consolidation under the power of the king Henry VII Tudor united England Changed the laws of Wales to those of England War for the Roses (sporadic between 1455-1487) War for the throne: House of Lancaster v. House of York Lancaster’s win- Henry Tudor assumes the throne as Henry VII

France (1461) Louis XI (1461­83), restored unity and stability to France after Hundred Years' War. Louis centralized royal power, using bribery, diplomacy, intrigue, treachery, and war. began absolute monarchy in France, promoted trade and towns which increased French wealth. Louis XI the Spider King

Russia (1463) Ivan III of Moscow refused to pay tribute to Mongols in 1455 Russia united behind him Very barbaric compared to Western Europe Becomes known as Ivan the Great: 1462-1505

Italy not a unified nation until the 19th century. During the Renaissance ambitious rulers of France (Charles VIII and Francis II) and Spain (Charles V) invaded Italy and kept it from uniting Niccoló Machiavelli wrote The Prince. Machiavelli was one of the first to call out for Italian unification.

Ottoman Empire Turkish Muslims who conquered Constantinople in 1453 now spread into Eastern Europe Stopped at Vienna by Charles V A constant threat to the power of European kings and a threat to the Pope

Characteristics of a Nation State Bureaucratization Permanent Army taxes Representative govt and a king

Results Stable government = possibility for economic, social and political growth rather than constant international war Increased power and size of government so more people felt its power more directly Increased competition between states rather than only within states