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# The World in 1500 ## Europe in 1500 Europe in 1500 was composed of many competitive states, many of which still exist today, although their borders and compositions have changed over time. ### Feudal Society in Medieval Europe The feudal society in medieval Europe was stratified, with chronic...

# The World in 1500 ## Europe in 1500 Europe in 1500 was composed of many competitive states, many of which still exist today, although their borders and compositions have changed over time. ### Feudal Society in Medieval Europe The feudal society in medieval Europe was stratified, with chronic instability leading to hierarchical social classes. Conflict and disunity were common. * **The King:** At the top of the structure was the King, with the Church as a nearly equally powerful institution. * **Nobles:** Nobles, including barons and bishops, acted as extensions of the King's power and as checks on it. They owned significant land and wealth and had special privileges. * **Lords:** Lords were powerful nobles who controlled significant landholdings. * **Knights:** These were the military branch of the nobility providing military service to the King. * **Clergy (Church):** The Church was a powerful institution with significant wealth and influence. * **Merchants, Artisans, and Craftsmen:** Below the nobility were merchants, traders, artisans, and craftsmen, some of whom could become wealthy. * **Peasants:** Peasants worked the land of nobles, forming the lowest rung of the social order. They often had little freedom of movement. ### 16th Century European Costume  ### Political and Religious Landscape European political and religious leaders sought to expand their power and solidify their borders. Monarchs, the most powerful figure, often struggled against their nobility for control. Religious conflict and the desire to divert religious taxes further complicated the political climate. ### Other Events * **Columbian Exchange:** In 1492, Christopher Columbus crossed the Atlantic Ocean, initiating a five-century exchange of people, diseases, plants, goods, and ideas across the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. * **Decline of the Mongol Empire:** The decline of the Mongol Empire and the rise of the Ottoman Empire caused major shifts in global power dynamics and significantly impacted trade routes in Asia. * **Ottoman Empire:** The newly dominant Ottoman Empire disrupted trade, particularly the lucrative spice routes to Asia, prompting European exploration for new routes.