Early Modern Age Notes

Economic Changes in the Early Modern Age

  • Expansion of agriculture due to new lands, improved techniques, and increased demand.

  • Rise in artisanal production because of reduced guild control and population growth.

  • Commercial expansion through reactivated trade routes and new long routes for luxury products.

  • Development of commercial capitalism with exchange agents, bankers, and financial practices.

  • Growth of cities into industrial and commercial centers.

Social Transformations

  • Significant population growth in Europe during the 15th century.

  • High mortality rates, especially infant mortality.

  • Nobility & Clergy: Privileged class that didn’t pay taxes, held administrative roles, and owned most of the land.

  • Third Class: Largest, consisted of wealthy people without privileges, including the bourgeoisie.

  • Peasants: some freed from feudalism, others not.

Evolution of the Monarchy

  • Centralisation of royal power: Everyone answered to the monarch.

  • A bureaucratic system managed by servants paid by the king.

  • Reduction of the nobility's power.

  • A taxation system to fund the new state system.

  • Permanent court to govern the kingdom.

  • Diplomatic service with ambassadors for foreign relations.

  • Permanent army funded by the monarch.

Main Modern States in Europe

  • ENGLAND: Weak due to civil wars and conflict with France.

  • FRANCE: Powerful and rich due to its large population and centralised power.

  • HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE: Territories ruled by the Habsburg family.

  • CASTILLA AND ARAGON: Dynastic union through the marriage of Isabel and Fernando.

  • ITALIAN PENINSULA: Consisting of several states.

  • OTTOMAN EMPIRE: Expanded territory across Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Dynastic Union of Castilla and Aragon

  • In 1469, Princess Isabel and Prince Fernando married, leading to a dynastic union.

  • In 1474, Isabel became Queen of Castilla and had to fight for control.

  • In 1479, Fernando became King of Aragón.

  • Both kingdoms maintained their own laws and institutions but shared international policies.

Iberian Peninsula’s Politics

  • The Catholic Monarchs conquered Granada in 1492.

  • King Fernando invaded and annexed Navarra to Castilla in 1512, maintaining its laws.

  • Foreign Policy focused on Mediterranean area and alliances through marriages.

Institutions

  • Councils: Lawyers and officials advising the monarchy (e.g., Council of Castilla).

  • Royal Secretaries: Close advisors connecting the monarchy to councils.

  • Viceroys: Represented the king and queen in kingdoms.

  • Santa Hermandad: Armed body maintaining social order.

  • Contaduría Real de Hacienda: Collected taxes for the monarchy.

  • Corregidores: In charge of town halls, representing the monarchy.

  • Permanent army: Professional soldiers paid by the monarchy.

  • Military orders: placed under monarchy control.

Religious Unity

  • Treaty of Granada signed after the surrender of Sultan Boabdil.

  • Jews forced to convert to Christianity (conversos) or be expelled.

  • Muslims later forced to convert (moriscos) or be expelled.

Reasons for Greater Explorations

  • ECONOMICS: Need for new trade routes due to Muslim blockades.

  • POLITICS: Rivalry between Portugal and Castilla.

  • RELIGION: Desire to spread Christianity.

  • TECHNICAL ADVANCES: New instruments and stronger ships (caravels).

Portuguese discoveries

  • Portuguese explorations focused on reaching India by sea, discovering Madeira and exploring the Gulf of Guinea.

  • Bartolomeu Dias navigated around the Cape of Good Hope.

  • Vasco da Gama reached India and settled in Calicut.

Cristopher Colombus

  • Cristopher Colombus, a genoese navigator, set sail to discover a route to the Indies through the west.

  • On 12th October 1492, he reached the Caribbean Islands, discovering a new continent.

The Treaty of Tordesillas

  • Signed in 1494 to divide the world between Portugal and the Catholic Monarchs.

  • A meridian divided the world into two hemispheres.

The first voyage around the world

  • Ferdinand Magellan's expedition aimed to find a route to India from the west.

  • Juan Sebastián Elcano completed the voyage in 1522 after Magellan's death, being the first to circumnavigate the world.