Consolidation of Power in the Middle Ages and Rise of New Monarchies

Introduction

• Common misconception: Medieval kings were all-powerful.
• Reality: Power was shared between kings, nobles, and the church.
• Nobility was the most powerful group during the Middle Ages.
• Shift in power dynamics began in the 1500s with the rise of "new monarchs."

New Monarchs

• Defined by the consolidation of power away from the church and nobles.
• Path to becoming absolutist monarchs.

Top-Down Religious Reforms

• Henry VIII of England
  • Originally opposed Protestant Reformation.
  • Declared "Defender of the Faith" by the Pope.
  • Sought annulment from Catherine of Aragon; denied by Pope due to Spanish influence.
  • Established the Church of England, separate from the Catholic Church.
  • Treason Act made it a crime not to recognize the Church of England.
• Elizabeth I of England
  • Ended persecution of Anglican bishops.
  • Act of Uniformity: English subjects had to attend Anglican church services.

Taxation and Bureaucracy

• Monarchs centralized taxation and expanded bureaucratic power.
• Spain:
  • National taxes established under Ferdinand and Isabella.
• France:
  • Concordat of Bologna (1516) allowed the monarchy to appoint church officials.

Religion and Power

• Monarchs determined the religion of their subjects.
• Peace of Augsburg (1555)
  • Allowed rulers in the Holy Roman Empire to choose Catholicism or Lutheranism.

Rise of Commercial and Professional Groups

• Increased political role through banking and commerce.
• Key Families:
  • Medici family in Florence, Italy.
  • Fooger family in Augsburg, German states.

Secular State Concept

• Emerged in Italian states, influenced by authors in France, Britain, and the Netherlands.
• Machiavelli
  • Advocated for republicanism, where elected representatives govern.
• Jean Bodin
  • Supported absolute monarchy, with kings ruling by divine right.

Conclusion

• Transition towards centralization of power under monarchies in Europe.
• Introduction of secular states with reduced church influence.

Study Resources

• Suggested to review Unit 1 materials and AP Euro review pack for further study.