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I: The Medieval Background I: The Medieval Background Middle Ages: An Age of Faith 500 A.D. to 1500 A.D. Ideal Three Medieval Estates The Third Estate in practice refers to the bourgeoisie or the Middle Class of skilled craftsmen, guild members, and merchants. The peasantry, many of whom were serfs, did not count politically until the 19th century.
The Medieval Synthesis refers to the relationship between the Feudal kings were limited in power and had to balance each of the power centers within their kingdom. The change from feudal monarchy to absolute monarchy. The anarchy of the Reformation and the need for strong military backers aids kings and powerful princes who emerge as champions of the religious cause. Even the Popes surrender power over the Catholic Church to kings (Spanish king appoints Catholic bishops in Spain) in order to keep their backing. In Lutheran areas, the Prince is essential if Protestantism is to survive. II. The concept of the State emerges. Jean Bodin and the Concept of Sovereignty
A central government exercises effective control over a given territory and people. The central government has a monopoly on the legitimate use of force. The absolute monarch has complete control not only internally (within the kingdom) but also externally. He is able to defend the kingdom against incursions from outside. He can defend the kingdom against external aggression. Each absolute king seeks to expand his power, both internally and externally, to the maximum extent possible. War is the sport of kings. The stronger a king is internally, the more he can expand his power externally. But the King A’s power externally (beyond his own kingdom) is always limited by other strong kings (Kings B, C, D, etc.) who resist King A’s expansion. And even successful expansion may produce new stresses on King A internally. If the conquered province has a religion other than the religion of the Kingdom of A, King A may face all sorts of problems of ruling and integrating the conquered province into his kingdom. Kingdoms and provinces acquire fixed borders. The state (kingdom) becomes a legally fixed territory. Crossing a fixed border with an army becomes in itself a hostile act; an act of war. A State System has emerged. Aggressive behavior by one king results in defensive alliances against the aggressor. A balance of power system has emerged. III: The Dominance of Spain and its Habsburg Rulers Ferdinand of Aragon married Isabella of Castile. Their marriage produced the modern state of Spain. The last Muslim stronghold, Granada, was captured in 1492, the same year that Columbus discovered America. The riches of the Americas went to the crown (king) and helped to finance the wars of Charles V and Philip II. The 16th century was the golden age of Spain. Spanish absolutism was intolerant of religious diversity (Muslims and Jews), weakened the development of a middle class, and squandered its resources on wars. The defeat of the Spanish Armada (1588) and the loss of the United Provinces of the Netherlands (completed by 1648) mark the end of Spain's greatness. Habsburg Rulers | and Isabella, 1479 - 1504 Ferdinand | and Philip I, 1504 - 1506 | and Charles I, 1506 - 1516 Habsburg Dynasty Charles I (also Holy Roman Emperor Charles V) 1516 - 1556 The Rise and Fall of the Spanish, Catholic, Habsburg Empire
Charles V (Charles I of Spain) 1516 - 1556 Abdicates and divides his possessions between his son Philip II, 1556 - 1598, who gets Spain, Spanish colonies, and the Netherlands, and his brother Ferdinand I, 1556 - 1564, who gets Austria and the nominal title of Holy Roman Emperor. End of the Spanish Habsburgs in 1701 War of the Spanish Succession leads to a Bourbon becoming King of Spain in 1701. Spain has ceased to be a great power. France has emerged as the dominant power on the continent. England has emerged as the dominant naval power. IV: The Austrian Habsburgs from 1556 to The Thirty Years War 1618 - 1648 The Thirty Years war was fought essentially within the Germanies or as it was then known as the HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE. The Catholic side, led by the Austrian Holy Roman Emperors, failed in destroying the Lutherans and unifying the Holy Roman Empire under Austrian, Habsburg, Catholic domination. Protestantism survived on the continent and in England. At the end of the Thirty Years War, the Habsburgs of Austria and Spain are the big losers of the war. Austria looses any chance of uniting the Germanies under its dominant rule. France emerges as the most powerful country on the continent of Europe. Spain continues to slip in power. The Seven United Provinces of the Netherlands gain their independence under their Calvinist religion and briefly enjoy great power status as a commercial and naval power. England is united with Scotland under the Stuart dynasty. Civil War breaks out between the King and Parliament. Charles I is executed in 1649. The Puritan Commonwealth and, later, Protectorate under Oliver Cromwell flourishes. The Stuarts are restored in 1660 until the Glorious Revolution of 1689. William, Stadtholder of Holland, becomes King William III with his Stuart wife Mary II. The fortunes of the Netherlands become linked to the larger Great Britain. Great Britain becomes the dominant naval power of the world. Rivalry between France and Great Britain. V. European Imperialism: First Phase: 1450s - 1789 The Spanish Empire Portuguese Empire Dutch Empire Swedish Empire French Empire English Empire VI. French Hegemony Under the Bourbons (1589) and The Wars of Louis XIV to 1715 Louis XIV of France: king from 1643, but Cardinal Mazarin ruled until his death in 1661, when the king assumes direct control and ruled from 1661 to 1715. Four Major Wars of Louis XIV War of Devolution 1667-1668 against Spanish Netherlands Peace of Utrecht (1713-1714) restores the balance of power. VII. The Period After Louis XIV: 1715 - 1789 or The Age of Enlightenment France under Louis V and Louis XVI Great Britain Under the House of Hanover The Emergence of RussiaPeter the Great Forced Westernization The Great Northern War The Emergence of Prussia Resilient Habsburgs of Austria "World Wars" of the 18th century VIII. The French Revolution and the Wars of Napoleon: 1789 - 1815 The French Revolution IX. Post Napoleonic Period: 1815 - 1914 or The Concert of Europe Stability and Change in the 19th Century Mid-Century Unification of Italy and Germany Imperialism in the Industrial Era Bismarck's System of Alliances |