Merriman Teacher Notes: Spanish & English Monarchies 2023 Summer
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Uploaded by MarvelousCynicalRealism2045
2023
Merriman
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Summary
These teacher notes cover the centralization of power in the Spanish and English monarchies during the 15th and 16th centuries. Key events like the Reconquista and the Wars of the Roses are discussed, alongside figures like Isabella of Castille, Ferdinand of Aragon, and Henry VII. The notes analyze the consolidation of royal power, including administrative, judicial, and economic strategies.
Full Transcript
# Centralization and the Spanish Monarchy - 1469: Isabella of Castille married Ferdinand of Aragon. - Generally unified Spain. - Castilian dialect became Spanish. - 1492: Captured Granada, ended Reconquista (pushed Muslim rulers of Spain). - Supposedly Muslims got religious tolerance. - Fe...
# Centralization and the Spanish Monarchy - 1469: Isabella of Castille married Ferdinand of Aragon. - Generally unified Spain. - Castilian dialect became Spanish. - 1492: Captured Granada, ended Reconquista (pushed Muslim rulers of Spain). - Supposedly Muslims got religious tolerance. - Ferdinand & Isabella united country around Catholic Church. - Forced Jews to convert, leave, or die. - Instituted the Spanish Inquisition. - Interrogated and punished anyone accused of questioning the Church. - Centralized justice system, royal control. - Brought towns under royal control. - Stripped some Castilian nobles of privileges. - Sold titles/positions in government. - Resistance in Catalonia and Valencia. - Catalonia resisted less centralized constitutional traditions. - Kept assembling Cortes (legislative assembly). - Limited monarchial authority - Castilian Cortes maintained the right to approve special taxes until 1500. - Refused to levy taxes to subsidize the monarchy. # The Rise of England - Tudors consolidated power, took over Wales and Ireland. - The House of Tudor - War of Roses (1455-1487) came out of loss in Hundred Years War. - Civil War between House of Lancaster and House of York over who would govern England. - Ultimately won by Henry Tudor, King Henry VII. - Henry VII advised by Thomas Wolsey (Archbishop of York). - Created loyal King's Council. - Royal Assize Courts took responsibility for criminal cases, enforced Parliament laws, and administered Tudor state. - 1509: Henry VII died, son became King Henry VIII. - Married Catherine of Aragon. - Spent a lot of $ fighting France to create an empire (never worked). - When House of Commons refused to fund wars King Henry VIII debased currency. - Also, higher taxes on peasants. - Led to peasant uprisings. - Henry VIII forced landowners to loan to the crown. - Imprisoned and confiscated land of those that refused. - Created Star Chamber as highest court in land (above nobles/took their judicial power). - Imposed tariffs on cloth. - Unified weights & measures. - Punished vagabonds & begging. - Disbanded army. - Sold monopolies. - Won loyalty of most nobles. - Put Parliament to give him "will" of attainder legislature. - Declares person guilty of crime. - So he could seize more land. - Created 400 justices of the peace for uniform enforcement of laws & court cases. - Shifted royal power from royal household to small officials. - Bureaucracy of royal government. - Reduced size of Advisory Council and formalized structure. - Privy Council assumed oversight functions, communicating with Justices of the peace. - Established new revenue courts. - King's law/common law accepted across the country. - The Roots of the Reformation - Rise of new monarchs eroded papal authority. - Took authority → national churches (clerical appointments, taxes on Church lands).
