7th Grade Social Studies The Power of Kings 7th Grade Social Studies
Nation Building Kings ruled kingdoms but the wealthiest lords also had great power Some nobles/lords had more land, vassals, and knights than his king The nobles’ power was based on the feudal system If the feudal system declined, so would the nobles’ power
Decline of Feudalism Reasons for the decline of feudalism 1. The Growth of Trade and Towns Kings support new towns to make money Towns get rich and support the the king against troublesome nobles 2. Crusades Weaken Nobles Many nobles gave up land to join the crusades Many nobles died fighting and kings claimed their land
Birth of Nations Instead of a patchwork of fiefs, large areas of Europe became united under a single king Large kingdoms eventually turned into nations Nation: a community of people that shares territory and a government Common language and culture also unite people as a nation Nation Building: the process of combining smaller communities into a single nation with a national identity and a national government
Kings and Nations A royal marriage (between Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon) united the two largest kingdoms in Spain In Russia rulers called tsars gained power over nobles In France a long line of kings slowly gained power In England William the Conqueror was a strong ruler that increased the power of a king The nobles resented this power The following kings continue to increase the power of kings until…..
The Magna Carta In 1199 King John takes over England He angers nobles by: Taxing heavily and jailing enemies without trial He angers the church by: Taking church property In 1215 nobles (backed by clergymen) presented King John with a list of their demands This document was the Magna Carta and it limited the king’s power John was forced to sign Limited king’s ability to tax and jail men without just cause
The Hundred Years War Fought between France and England Lasted from 1337 – 1453 (…116 Years War?) Causes: Changing boundaries between France and Britain due to marriages and inheritance Both want control of the English Channel Disputes over trade routes England wins most battles in the beginning, but Joan of Arc helps turn things around for France
Effects of the Hundred Years’ War New weapons: Longbows and cannons Kings need large armies not just bands of knights Feelings of nationalism grow Nationalism: a feeling of pride in one’s country Modern boundaries between France and England were set England seeks land elsewhere for trade and conquest Feudalism fades away and Europe becomes a continent of nations