State Building in Europe

What is the real reason Europe became politically fragmented after Rome fell?

Rome’s central government collapsed → no single authority → Germanic tribes, local warlords, and nobles created independent kingdoms → long-term decentralization.

Name one concrete method monarchs used to centralize power 1200–1450.

Kings built bureaucracies, used royal courts, taxed directly, and created professional armies to reduce noble power.

What specifically limited monarchs’ power?

Nobles controlled private armies and land, so kings depended on them for military support → prevented strong central states.

ONE specific way the Church exercised political authority?

The Pope could excommunicate rulers, which threatened their legitimacy and forced them to obey Church decisions.

Give an ACTUAL conflict between Church and states.

Investiture Controversy — Popes and kings fought over who could appoint bishops (spiritual vs. political authority).

ONE real way the Church unified Europe?

Latin as the universal language of religion, learning, and law created shared culture across Europe.

What is an actual change to feudalism between 1200–1450?

Growth of towns and money economy weakened nobles because kings could hire paid armies instead of relying on vassals.

How did the Black Death weaken feudalism?

Massive population loss → labor shortage → serfs demanded wages or left manors → feudal obligations declined.

Give a STRONG outside evidence for religion & politics in medieval Europe.

Magna Carta (1215) — forced the king to recognize that even monarchs must follow Christian moral/legal principles.

What does a fragmented Holy Roman Empire map actually show?

It shows political decentralization, meaning the emperor had limited authority → Church influence filled the power vacuum.

What does a strong thesis for this topic look like?

“Religion significantly shaped political development in Europe by legitimizing rulers and providing administrative unity, although political fragmentation still limited centralized authority.”