Political+and+economic+changes


 * SOCIAL STUDIES. Summaries in English **


 * __ UNIT 8 POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGE __**

In the 14th century, Europe suffered a crisis as a result of poor harvests, wars and illness. The most terrible event was the **plague**, or **Black Death**, in 1348. More than a quarter of the population died. In the 15th century, the situation improved, and the population began to recover slowly. In the 16th century, there was considerable population growth.
 * THE RECOVERY OF THE POPULATION **

In the 15th and 16th centuries, the European economy expanded thanks to population growth and geographical discoveries. The **banking system** improved, and new payment and lending methods made financial transactions easier. During this period, cities had great economic power. Some of the most influential cities were Venice, Florence, Antwerp, Lisbon, Seville and London.
 * ECONOMIC GROWTH **

Society was still divided into three estates, but some important changes took place. The **nobles** and the **clergy** continued to be the privileged classes. They did not pay direct taxes and held the most important positions. However, the **bourgeoisie** also became very influential. It was made up of rich and powerful merchant and banking families. Some of them married into noble families to raise their social status. The Medici in Italy and the Fuggers in Germany had a great influence in this time. **Peasants** continued to live under hard conditions, although their situation in most countries of Western Europe was much better because became free.
 * SOCIAL CHANGE **

In the 15th century, European monarchs continued to reinforce their power by reducing the power of the nobility, the Church, the municipalities and the Parliaments. There were serious confrontations and some of these led to civil wars. The birth of the **authoritarian monarchy** was possible thanks to the creation of a bureaucracy, an **army**, a **diplomatic system** and the increasing of **taxes**. Also, the **Court**, or King’s residence, did not travel as it had done in the Middle Ages. It settled in one city and governed from there.
 * AUTHORITARIAN MONARCHIES **

In the Middle Ages, Europe was divided into many small states. But in the 15th century, many states began to be united by marriage alliances and by conquest. Authoritarian monarchies were common in Europe. However, there were four great kingdoms: France, England, Spain and Russia. In **Spain**, for example, the **Catholic Monarchs** unified all the Iberian kingdoms, except Portugal.
 * THE GREAT KINGDOMS **

In the first half of the 15th century, the Iberian Peninsula was divided into five large territories: the Crown of Castile, the Crown of Aragón, the Kingdom of Navarre, the Kingdom of Portugal and the Islamic Kingdom of Granada. In 1469, **Ferdinand**, son of the king of Aragón, married **Isabella**, sister of the king of Castile. In 1477, Isabella became Queen of Castile, after five years of civil war against the supporters of her niece, Joanna La Beltraneja, and two years later, Ferdinand became King of Aragón. So, both Crowns were united. The **Catholic Monarchs** governed their territories together, but each kingdom had its own laws and institutions. The dynastic union was finally confirmed in the person of Charles I and his successors.
 * CASTILE **** AND ARAGON IN THE 15th CENTURY. DYNASTIC UNION. **

In order to bring peace to their kingdoms, Ferdinand and Isabella created the **Holy Brotherhood**, a judicial police force, to fight against bandits and the abuses of the nobility. They also reorganised justice and strengthened the **Royal Council**, the highest judicial body. They ensured the royal authority in the cities with the appointment of corregidores. They strengthened the royal **Treasury** and took privileges away from the nobles. They also created a permanent and professional **army**, which became one of the best in Europe.
 * DOMESTIC POLICIES **

In 1492, they conquered the **Kingdom** **of Granada**, and annexed it to the Crown of Castile. In 1512, they annexed the **Kingdom** **of Navarre**. In 1504, they annexed the **Kingdom** **of Naples** to the Crown of Aragón. They conquered cities, such as **Melilla** and **Oran** in North Africa. They captured the **Canary Islands** and began the colonisation of **America**.
 * TERRITORIAL EXPANSION **

The Catholic Monarchs wanted religious unification for their kingdoms. In 1478, with the Pope’s permission, they founded the **Tribunal of the Inquisition** to prosecute heretics. It was known for its severe sentences and punishments. In 1492 they expelled the **Jews**. The **conversors** were persecuted by this Tribunal. In 1512, another decree established the conversion or expulsion of **Mudejars**. Muslims who converted to Christianity were called **Moriscos**.
 * RELIGIOUS UNITY **