Medieval European History

Monarchs and Wars

• Monarchs frequently engaged in wars with other kings and faced opposition from their own subjects.

Establishment of Permanent Royal Armies

• Monarchs created permanent royal armies to reduce dependence on nobility, Church, and cities.
• This led to increased stability and fewer social conflicts in the kingdoms.

Financing Royal Armies

• Royal treasuries collected money to maintain administrative and military systems.
• Monarchs increased financial resources by:
  • Creating taxes
  • Borrowing from the richest members of the middle class
  • Asking regional courts for larger financial contributions or services
  • Conquering other territories to obtain more wealth

Demographic Factors

• Population growth occurred after the demographic stagnation of the Late Middle Ages, leading to an increased demand for precious metals and products from the East.

Political and Religious Factors

• Religious rivalry with Islam, reinforced by the Ottomans, drove European Christians to explore and discover.
• Conflict with Islam was particularly prominent in the Iberian kingdoms, where the spirit of the Crusades continued.

Sociological Factors

• The Renaissance inspired people to explore and discover new lands.
• Books like The Travels of Marco Polo served as a source of inspiration for many.

Scientific and Technical Factors

• Advances in navigation led to the development of new ships, such as carracks and caravels.
• Geographers began to believe that the world was round, rather than flat.

Economic Factors

• Europeans needed gold and silver to produce coins.
• They relied heavily on products from the East, including silk and spices.
• The fall of Byzantium to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 closed the traditional trade route, prompting Europeans to search for alternate routes.

This quiz covers the history of medieval Europe, focusing on monarchs, wars, and the establishment of permanent royal armies. Learn about the social and economic developments of the time.