Politics and the State During the Renaissance

1. Politics and the State During the Renaissance 1450-1521

2. Introduction • Strong monarchies were important in terms of centralizing and consolidating power • Argument as to why 100 Years’ War lasted so long • Nobles had more power than king

3. Power Struggle • Inspired by Ren. ideas (of the Greeks and Romans), many monarchs of the 15th c. attempted to rebuild the strength of their power • Checked power of the nobles • Established peace in the country • Absolute monarchs: strong, total control was objective • “would rather be feared than loved” (Machiavelli) • France, England and Spain

4. France • 100 Years’ War destroyed France • Economically ruined • Land destroyed • Depopulated

5. Charles VII • French monarchs of the day attempted to rebuild the country • Charles VII • Ended civil war • Increased royal revenue through taxes: $ • Built strong military (first permanent standing army) • Limited power of church over the state (Pragmatic Sanction)

6. Louis XI • He built upon the practices of his father • Unified all independent principalities • Increased taxation • Controlled nobility • Concordat of Bologna • Gave church some power back, but still allowed monarch to appoint church officials

7. England • Like France, England had suffered the effects of the Black Plague, 100 Years’ War, and civil war • War of the Roses, 1455-1471 • York family (white rose) and Lancaster family (red rose) • 2 branches of the Plantagenet Dynasty • Vied for succession to the throne • Edward VII (York) won the throne and attempted to establish peace

8. Edward VII • Main Focus of monarchs after Edward VII was to continue the time of peace in England and control the nobility • Richard III, Henry VII (Tudor family) • Monarchs used diplomacy to avoid wars with neighbors • Therefore, didn’t need to ask Parliament (legislative body, made up of nobles) for money • Royal Council: Middle class officials that helped king manage countryside

9. The Tudors • Tudor Family (Henry VII and descendants) used local officials to help control country at local level • Focused on concerns of the middle class= popularity • Effectively created peace, rebuilt the strength of the monarchy and economy • No standing army

10. Spain • Spain, like Italy, consisted of smaller, independent kingdoms (each with their own rulers) • For many years, the Iberian Peninsula (what is now Spain and Portugal), had a common goal to reconquer (reconquista) the peninsula from the Moors (Muslims) and Jews

11. Government Problems • Problem is that Spain is too divided • No governmental unity • Marriage of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon was an attempt unify the peninsula • Ferd and Bella had trouble with aristocracy (nobles) • hermandades: local councils of middle class people who helped with local control • Controlled church • Could tax church and appoint church officials

12. Ethnic Cleansing • 1492, Granada (southern Spain) was defeated • Last Muslim stronghold • Columbus was sent out that same year • Jews • Many Jews in Spain had control of money, good jobs; led to jealousy • Forced to convert or leave • Converts were called new Christians • Inquisition was created to determine if conversions were real • One religion was important in fully controlling country • 1580, peninsula was fully unified