1. The Decline of the Italian City-States 1494-1527
Mr. Meester
AP European History
Pages

2. Italy Prior to 1494 The Italian city-states were autonomous units.
This made them a tempting target for foreign invaders
The Treaty of Lodi in 1454 allied Naples, Milan, and Florence
Often opposed by Venice & the Papal States
When needed all 5 united

3. Unity Ends 1490 Ludovico il Moro of Milan ends the Treaty of Lodi
Hostilities with Naples begins
Florence sides with Naples
Moro seeks an alliance with France
BIG MISTAKE!!!

4. France Attacks 1495 Charles VIII marches his army through Italy
The conquest threatened other European powers

5. Spain to the Rescue
Ferdinand of Aragorn feared French expansion into Italy
Formed the League of Venice to oppose the French

6. The Borgia Family
Rodrigo Borgia would head one of the most powerful families in Italy
He became Pope Alexander VI (the most corrupt Pope in history)

7. Louis & Alexander
Alexander VI wanted control of Romagna in Northern Italy
Annulled new French King Louis XII’s marriage
1500 Disbanded the League of Venice & allied the Papal States to France
Divides Italy between himself, France and Spain

8. Pope Julius II Became Pope in 1503
Suppressed the Borgia family
Formed an alliance with Spain, Venice, Swiss and the Holy Roman Empire

9. Niccolo Machiavelli He was a member of the Florentine elite.
A Humanist, he idolized Ancient Rome
Wanted a reunited Italy
Liked Republican ideals but also believed the ends justify the means

10. Rise of the “New” National Monarchies
After 1450 Monarchies in Northern Europe began to emerge
Feudalism was in decline as the power of towns and kings rose
Kings began to control taxation and warfare states became “national”
Bureaucracies were created in the service of the king

11. France Begins with Charles VII at the end of the 100 Years’ War.
Tools given by his father allow Louis XI to turn France into a great power
Was able to get rid of Dukes of Burgundy
Unity would be relatively short lived
Louis XI

12. Spain The kingdoms of Aragon and Castile had been poorly ruled
They were unified through the marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon & Isabella of Castile
Spain had been one of the few places in Europe where 3 religions peacefully tolerated
Ferdinand and Isabella began the Inquisition
Spain became a power during their rule both politically and economically

13. England
The Hundred Years’ War led to a civil war known as the War of the Roses
This led to the emergence of the Tudor dynasty
Henry VII used the courts and English to strengthen the monarchy

14. Holy Roman Empire
Compared to the other monarchies was extremely fragmented
The Emperor was the leader by law but not in reality
The Reichstag, a Supreme Court of Justice, and the Council of Regency were created during the 15th century