Lyceum & Book Club - Week 16 - Hand Out - 1400s

1400s - The Age of Renaissance

Feudalism and Serfdom

Aristocracy is the dominant class

1450 - Invention of the Printing Press

Italy dominant in trade and culture

Holy Roman Empire / Austria dominant politically / militarily

From wiki:

In the Holy Roman Empire, which occupied Austria and Bohemia, the Hapsburg Dynasty began. The Empire expanded its territory, acquiring Burgundy and attempting to unite Germany. The emperor's son married the daughter of the Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella; their son, Charles V, became heir to Spain, Austria, and Burgundy.

Growth of town life from manors

Problems with Catholic Church

• Great Schism

• Simony and Nepotism

• Corruption of Clergy

• Sale of Indulgences

Plague

Humanism

Rise of New Monarchies

• Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain

• Henry VII of England

• Charles XI of France

From wiki:

With the Renaissance came the rise of new monarchs. These new monarchs were kings who took responsibility for the welfare of all of society. They centralized power and consolidated authority - the kings now controlled tariffs, taxes, the army, many aspects of religion, and the laws and judiciary.

In the way of the rise of new monarchs stood the church and nobles, who feared losing their power to the king. In addition, these new monarchs needed money, and they needed to establish a competent military rather than mercenaries.

The middle class allied themselves with the new monarchs. The monarchs desired their support because their money came from trade, and this trade provided a great source of taxable revenue. The middle class supported the monarchs because they received the elimination of local tariffs, as well as peace and stability.

Southern vs Northern Humanism

Early Reformers / Heretics of Catholic Church - Jan Huss and Wycliffe

1453 - Fall of Constantinople to the Turks

1492 - Christopher Columbus lands in the New World

Spain’s 1492 Reconquista - Jews and Muslims are expelled from Spain under Ferdinand and Isabella. Ferdinand and Isabella revived the Spanish Inquisition to remove the last of the Jews (the descendants of Jewish conversos, Jews who had converted either forcibly or voluntarily to Christianity, known as conversos).