State+Building+(580-582)+2

=State Building (580-582)=

Recovery in Western Europe: State Building
1. Taxes and Armies BF
 * Demographic recovery strengthened western European states like in China
 * Political authority in series of regional states in Europe, not centralized empire
 * By late 15th century, many states created government techniques that enhanced their power
 * Holy Roman Empire survived in name, but authority laid with German princes and Italian city-states after mid-13th century
 * Descendants of Muslim conquerors in Spain held kingdom of Granada[[image:KISH_11_243.gif width="486" height="425" align="right"]]
 * Kings of France and England fought over lands they both claimed
 * Resulted in Hundred Years' War (1337-1453)
 * Series of campaigns with warring factions seeking control of French lands
 * By late 15th century, regional states in western Europe strengthened their societies
 * Some laid foundations for emergence of 2 powerful monarchies
 * During late middle ages, state-building efforts involved 2 main elements
 * Development of fresh sources of finance
 * Usually through new taxes levied directly on citizens and subjects, supplementing the rulers' income
 * Maintenance of large standing armies
 * Often consisted of mercenary forces with gunpowder weapons

2. Italian States 3. France and Englad
 * Major city-states important
 * Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples
 * Financed by levying direct taxes and using long term bonds
 * Controlled public Italy
 * Italians influenced in order to gain money
 * Kings of France and England = noble and central
 * English had no army
 * France major Army
 * King Louis=organizer of powerful army

LA

4. Spain AS
 * Marriage of King Aragog and Isabel of Castile in 1469 brought the two wealthiest Iberian realm
 * Under their rule, they finished the reconquista by conquering Granada
 * 1492, seized Southern Italy
 * by 1559, they had almost entire Italian peninsula
 * they sponsored Christopher Columbus's quest for a route to China
 * Competitions between European states was more prominent as they tightened their authority in their territories
 * led to rapid development of armies and navies
 * made new weapons that helped them as they began to travel again