1.  In the 2 nd half of 15 th century states and monarchs began to work to restore their kingdoms and central authority of the state  Renaissance Monarchs – “new monarchies”  Some in western Europe succeeded in extending and restoring political authority  Kingdoms in eastern Europe were weak and failed to impose their authority

2.  France after the 100 Years’ War 1. depopulated 2. ruined economy 3. out of control nobles  Louis XI – the spider -> wily and devious 1. used the taille as permanent source of royal revenue 2. Struggle with Charles the Bold of Burgundy 3. Gained and brought more territories under royal control 4. Created the base for the later dev of a strong French monarcy

3.  THE WAR OF THE ROSES  HENRY VII and THE TUDOR DYNASTY  THE COURT OF THE STAR CHAMBER HENRY VII – THE FIRST TUDOR MONARCH OF ENGLAND

4.  THE MOORS  THE RECONQUISTA  ISABELLA OF CASTILE AND FERDINAND OF ARAGON  THE SPANISH INQUISITION NEW MONARCHS IN SPAIN

5.  Holy Roman Empire/Germany -> failure to develop strong monarchy  The House of Habsburg -> originally princes of Austria -> gain control and title of Holy Roman Emperor  The Habsburgs gained their lands and power through marriages 1. Maximillian + Mary of Burgundy - > the low countries 2. Philip + Joanna of Castile -> Spain 3. Charles V inherits -> German lands, low countries, Spain, and southern Italy

7.  Poland 1. Triumph of the nobles over the monarch 2. Peasantry pushed back into serfdom 3. Made the monarchy elected 4. Failure to establish strong royal authority  Bohemia  Hungary  Russia 1. Under the control of the mongols 2. Princes of Moscow increase their power and lands 3. Ivan III -> creates the Principality of Moscow and throws off the control of the Mongols by 1480

8.  The Greek Byzantine Empire had served as a buffer/wall between the Muslim East and the Latin Christian West  The Ottoman Turks conquered the Byzantine Empire and in 1453 they take the city of Constantinople  The Ottomans move into the Balkans -> begin to threaten Hungary, Bohemia, Austria