1. History 10: How to Think About History
Unit 4: Building National Monarchies

2. Events are the products of other events
Causation
Events are the products of other events
Trade declined due to the death of 30% Europe’s population from the Black Death
The Church’s power rapidly declined due to the Babylonian Captivity and the Great Schism
Kings won the right to tax bishops
The Church was distracted by a series of so-called heresies, e.g. Wycliffe and Hus

3. Change Change is ongoing and ever present
The foundations of medieval society weakened
Many nobles died in France during the Hundred Years’ War
England was the first kingdom to take steps towards becoming a modern nation
William the Conqueror centralized power around the monarchy thereby weakening feudalism
King John’s weakness enabled England’s barons to get a written guarantee of their rights through the Magna Carta, i.e. establishing a representative assembly and limited monarchy
Unified nations gradually evolved, e.g. England, France, Sweden, etc. replacing the old feudal socities

4. Continuity connects different historical periods and developments
Popes and Holy Roman emperors struggled for power in Italy and Germany
The Moors (Muslims) of Spain re-introduced the thinking of the ancient Romans, e.g. Virgil, Tacitus, etc. and Greeks, e.g. Plato, Aristotle, etc. to Western Europe

5. History is not a science but a perspective or story
Perspectives & Biases
History is not a science but a perspective or story
Was the Catholic Church justified in killing its critics?
Absolute monarchs are more effective leaders than limited monarchs.