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THE RISE OF NATIONAL
STATES
NEW
DEVELOPMENTS
Between 1050 and 1300 (a period sometimes called the High Middle Ages),
political as well as economic and social change was evident in Europe.
Major trends included:
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A
revival of TRADE
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The growth of CITIES
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The growth of a new MIDDLE CLASS
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An increase in the POWER OF KINGS at the
expense of the feudal nobility.
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THE
WEAKNESSES OF FEUDALISM
Because FEUDALISM could not meet the
demands of a new and progressive society in the making, it was on the
decline.
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The
greatest weakness of feudalism was ITS INABILITY TO GUARANTEE LAW
AND ORDER
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For
example, ruffians could enter a village and demand protection
money from the peasants.
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Feudalism
provided no consistently effective agency to deal with such
ruffians.
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The
inefficiency inherent in the feudal system also HINDERED ECONOMIC
PROGRESS.
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Trade
and commerce spread over ever larger areas, but the boundaries
of many tiny feudal principalities acted as barriers to this
expansion.
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Along
the Seine River, for example, there were tolls every six or
seven miles.
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The
ills of feudalism could be cured only by the creation of unified and
centralized NATIONAL STATES.
The creation of these large territorial units would:
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Remove
the irritating tolls and tariffs imposed by local barons.
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Advance
trade.
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Make
a uniform currency possible.
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Establish
justice.
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THE
ORIGINS OF MODERN ENGLAND
The Norman Conquest
In 1066, the death of the childless Anglo-Saxon ruler Edward the Confessor
gave the duke of Normandy a HEREDITARY CLAIM to the English throne.
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The
Anglo-Saxon assembly, however, denied this claim and chose Harold
Godwirisson as king.
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This
triggered the swift CONQUEST OF ENGLAND by the powerful Normans.
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William
was crowned king of England in Westminster Abbey, both by right of
heredity (Edward's mother was a Norman) and by right of conquest.
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William
the Conqueror
As king, WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR (r.1066-1087) directed all of his policies
at a single goal -- the increase of his own power within the context of
feudalism.
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He
introduced the Norman system of CENTRALIZED FEUDALISM into England
by requiring all nobles to become his vassals and to swear an oath
of allegiance directly to him.
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He
modified the old Anglo-Saxon system of government by adding local
courts, sheriffs, and commissioners (inspectors and tax collectors)
who were RESPONSIBLE TO THE CROWN.
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He
increased his power by requiring all freemen of England to bear arms
for the king so that he did not have to rely on his nobles' armies.
(If a noble revolted against the king, William had his OWN ARMY to
crush the rebellion.)
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He
ordered an accurate census of the property and property-holders in
his realm (known as the DOOMSDAY BOOK) as a basis for collecting all
the feudal dues owed him.
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Henry
II
After the Norman kings (William and the three kings who ruled after
him), England came under the rule of HENRY II (r. 1154-1189), the founder
of the Plantagenet dynasty.
His
chief contribution to the development of the English monarchy was to
increase the jurisdiction of the ROYAL COURTS at the expense of the feudal
courts. This produced three major results:
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A
permanent system of CIRCUIT COURTS presided over by itinerant
justices.
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The
JURY SYSTEM.
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A
body of law common to all England (COMMON LAW)
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The
Magna Carta
Henry II's youngest son, JOHN (r 1199-1216), was considered by his
nobles to be a cruel and unscrupulous king.
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In
1215, his nobles rebelled against his rule and forced him to
agree to the Magna Carta
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This
document bound the king to observe all feudal rights and
privileges.
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The importance of the MAGNA CARTA is not in its
original purpose but in the potential it held for future expression
of these two principles:
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The
king is not above the law
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The
king can be compelled by force to obey the law of the land.
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THE
BEGINNINGS OF THE FRENCH NATIONAL STATE
By the late 900's the name France referred only to A SMALL REGION
AROUND PARIS. What was vaguely thought of as a kingdom was really just a
group of feudal states. Consequently, France lagged far behind England in
developing a national state.
The
Capetian Kings
Beginning in 987, with HUGH CAPET, the Capetian Kings tried to gain more
strength than the nobles.
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LOUIS
VI (r. 1108-1137) gained full control over his royal lands (the ile
de France) and put down the barons who threatened his power.
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His
grandson, PHILIP II AUGUSTUS (r. 1l80-l223), became more powerful
than any of his vassals and won Normandy, Anjou, and other English
holdings in France from King John.
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LOUIS
IX (r. 1226-1270) set up a system of royal courts, outlawed private
wars and trial by combat, endeavored to hear personally his
subjects' problems and complaints, but did not seek prior consent of
his council before issuing edicts.
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SPAIN:
THE RECONQUISTA
The unification of SPAIN was a more complex process than that of
either England or France.
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The
customary rivalry between the feudal aristocracy and the royal
authority was complicated by another significant element -- a
religious crusade.
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Unity
required the EJECTION OF THE MUSLIMS, with their alien religion and
civilization.
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Unity
also called for the INTEGRATION of several distinct Christian
states.
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The
process would not be completed until the 15th century.
However, by the end of the 13th century, Moorish political control
was confined to Granada.
FAILURES
OF THE NATIONAL STATE: GERMANY AND ITALY
Although they had initial success in building a strong state at home,
the German kings dissipated their energies by seeking to possess Italy and
the dream of empire.
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For hundreds of years German rulers pursued this objective.
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In
the face of resistance from the Italian cities, the treachery of the
German nobles, and the opposition of the papacy, the GERMAN KINGS
FAILED TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOAL.
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In
both GERMANY AND ITALY after 1250, DISUNITY AND WEAKNESS PREVAILED.
National unification was delayed until the 19th century. |
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