1. European Centralization, New Elites, and War

2. European Centralization
As Europeans became richer from trade, governments became
more focused on organized tax collection and bureaucracy
Rulers such as Philip II in Spain and Louis XIV in France began
to use this money and power to control the nobles (not Eng though)
What was once a tug-of-war between nobles and the
kings was become a more united, powerful centralized system
Rather than support the king with oaths of fealty, nobles were incorporated into the gov.
Centralized govs. also began to increase efforts to settle and explore the Americas,
especially North America, for fishing, lumber, metals, and plantation land (Eng, Neth, Fra)

3. Conflict with Nobles
As a result of centralization, nobles were losing influence in old Europe to the kings in Spain,
France, Sweden, and other countries when their views on feudalism gave way to a new idea
Known as the Divine Right of Kings, Europeans believed the king received
his authority directly from God, and therefore, could not be questioned
These kings built magnificent monuments and castles to demonstrate their power
(Versailles Palace - Fr), and higher artists to paint portraits of themselves as might leaders
Not all power was lost, however, as many of these kings, such as Louis XIV
of France, made the nobles a part of the centralized government
Nobles soon became the ones who ran the government, its bureaucracy,
the military, and were able to keep some of their local authority

4. European gentry and merchants
As Europeans grew richer and richer from exploration, trade, silver, and
cash crops, a new class of powerful people began to emerge: the gentry
Starting in England and the Netherlands, regular citizens and merchants
began to accumulate massive amounts of wealth, and purchased land
These non-nobles quickly became richer than the noble-born lords
of Europe, accumulated more land, and began to wield political power
Urban European commercial entrepreneurs began to inhabit
and control local policies in all major port cities in the world
From 1500 to 1700, the old elites—the nobles—were soon equalized or
surpassed in power and wealth by the new, emerging gentry merchant class
and outmuscled by centralizing monarchs and the Divine Right of Kings

5. The Reformation –
While European states began to centralize and identify as countries,
the religious unity Western Europe had disappeared with the Reformation
Unhappy with indulgences, simony, and nepotism in the Church, Martin Luther,
a monk, wrote the 95 Theses that against the corruption in the Church
Upon distributing these problems via the printing press, many other
parts of Europe began to agree, and split with Luther from the Church
Known as Protestantism, many of the German, English, and Scandinavians broke
from the Catholic Church, and resisted its attempts to force them back
While Protestants would successfully resist, Europe, especially Spain, waged
many religious wars, killing and spending millions on religious conflicts from

6. Conflicts in Europe Battle Over Trade Routes
Battle of Diu – 1509 – Portuguese victory over Muslim forces for control of the IOTN
Privateers and pirates in the Caribbean; fighting between Sp/Eng/Neth/Fra over Caribbean holdings
Battles with Islam
Siege of Vienna – 1529 and 1683 – Catholic forces hold off Ottoman
advances by land into Europe twice, ending the Ottoman threat in Europe
Battle of Lepanto – 1571 – massive naval battle between Christian European states
and the Ottoman Empire; result: Christian forces win complete control of Med. Sea
Battles with other Europeans (state rivalries)
Thirty Years War ( )– the final religious war that included every single major power in Europe
Result: victory of centralized France and Sweden over Spain, and
the end of Spanish reign as the ultimate power in Europe and the world