Glossary
Centralized governments
A system where political power is concentrated in a central authority, rather than being dispersed among local lords or institutions.
Example:
Louis XIV's France exemplified a centralized government, with all major decisions flowing from the king at Versailles, diminishing regional autonomy.
Church of England
The established state church of England, founded by Henry VIII, which retained some Catholic traditions while adopting Protestant doctrines.
Example:
The Church of England became the official religion, requiring all subjects to conform to its practices, though often with varying degrees of enforcement and tolerance.
Elizabeth I
Queen of England (r. 1558-1603) who established a lasting religious settlement, balancing Protestant and Catholic elements, and solidified England's position as a major European power.
Example:
Elizabeth I navigated complex religious divisions, creating a moderate Anglican Church that largely appeased both Protestant and Catholic factions, ensuring stability.
English Reformation
The series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church.
Example:
The English Reformation was unique among Protestant movements because it was primarily driven by political motives, specifically Henry VIII's desire for an annulment, rather than purely theological ones.
Feudalism
A medieval social and political system where land was exchanged for military service and loyalty, leading to decentralized power.
Example:
The decline of feudalism meant kings no longer had to rely on independent nobles for troops, instead building their own royal armies and bureaucracies.
Great Schism
A period (1378-1417) during which there were multiple competing popes, undermining the authority and prestige of the Catholic Church.
Example:
The chaos of the Great Schism weakened the papacy's influence, allowing secular rulers to gain more control over religious affairs in their territories.
Henry VIII
King of England (r. 1509-1547) famous for his six marriages and for initiating the English Reformation to secure a male heir and assert royal supremacy.
Example:
Henry VIII famously broke with the Pope to divorce Catherine of Aragon, fundamentally altering England's religious landscape and dissolving monasteries.
Hundred Years' War
A series of conflicts between England and France (1337-1453) that contributed to the decline of feudalism and the rise of national identities.
Example:
The devastation and nationalistic sentiment spurred by the Hundred Years' War helped pave the way for stronger monarchies in both England and France.
New Monarchs
Rulers who emerged in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, consolidating power and laying the groundwork for modern nation-states.
Example:
Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain were quintessential New Monarchs, unifying their kingdoms and asserting royal authority over the nobility and church.
Protestant ideals
Core beliefs and principles of the Protestant Reformation, such as salvation by faith alone, the authority of scripture, and the priesthood of all believers.
Example:
The spread of Protestant ideals challenged the traditional authority of the Catholic Church and encouraged individual interpretation of the Bible, leading to widespread religious upheaval.
Religious reforms
Changes made to religious practices, doctrines, or institutions, often initiated by monarchs to assert greater control over the church within their realms.
Example:
Philip II's efforts to enforce Catholic orthodoxy throughout his Spanish empire were a form of religious reform aimed at consolidating royal power and suppressing heresy.
Standing armies
Professional, permanent military forces maintained by the state, rather than temporary levies raised by feudal lords.
Example:
The creation of standing armies reduced reliance on unreliable feudal knights and allowed monarchs to project power more effectively, as seen with France's royal forces.
Tax collection
The process by which a government levies and gathers revenue from its citizens or subjects, often through a state-controlled monopoly.
Example:
The ability to establish a monopoly on tax collection allowed monarchs to fund their growing armies and bureaucracies without relying on feudal levies.