The Birth of the Modern State: Crisis of Feudalism and Global Expansion

Crisis of the Feudal System

The medieval feudal system was substituted by the Modern Age and the rise of authoritarian kingdoms.

Feudal Economy vs. Modern Economy

The feudal economy, which had been focused on the possession of land, shifted towards an economy based on the accumulation of money, trade, and colonization.

The Bourgeoisie

The bourgeoisie was the social class created and empowered by business and trade.

The Age of Discovery: Causes and Motivations

The great discoveries were driven by a combination of political, economic, scientific, technical, and religious factors:

• Political: After reconquering the Iberian Peninsula, Christian kingdoms sought expansion to acquire new materials from these new lands.
• Economic: As the main trade routes had been interrupted by the Turks, new routes became necessary to reach Asia.
• Scientific: Scholars had discovered that the Earth was round, though they underestimated its actual size.
• Technical: Navigation improved significantly with new inventions, including the compass (to locate the north) and the astrolabe (used for guidance at night).
• Religious: Christian kingdoms continued fighting against their enemies and sought to create alliances against them.

The Portuguese Expeditions

In the 15th century, a Portuguese prince called Henry (often known as Henry the Navigator) promoted the development of sailing and the exploration of Africa.

There was a strong rivalry with Castile, which was resolved by signing the Treaty of Alcáçovas. Portugal subsequently occupied the islands of Madeira, the Azores, and Cape Verde.

The Castilian Expeditions

Christopher Columbus, supposedly born in Genoa, knew the Earth was round. He proposed sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean to reach India.

In the 16th century, the successors of the Catholic Monarchs granted permissions for further exploration to other sailors.

The Rise of the Modern State

The medieval feudal monarchies transitioned into powerful authoritarian monarchies.

Key Features of Authoritarian Monarchy

• Centralized Power: The monarch held all the power, controlling the nobles and the municipalities.
• Bureaucracy: A bureaucracy of professional civil servants was established to carry out the monarch's decisions across the country.
• Taxation: Regular taxes were set to provide the Crown with a stable and regular income.

Economic and Social Transformations

Demographic Growth

In the 15th and 16th centuries, the population grew significantly due to improved harvests.

Economic Growth

The demand for products increased. Agriculture became more professionalized, characterized by good harvests and the use of new land for crops.

Social Changes

The traditional social estates still continued, but new groups and features emerged:

• The nobility and clergy accepted the monarch's increased power.
• The bourgeoisie became wealthier and more influential due to trade and business.

The Crisis of the Catholic Church (The Reformation)

The 16th century saw a great division in the Western Catholic Church that broke its unity.

Causes of the Schism

Some popes and high-ranking members of the clergy were not living according to Christian principles. Key abuses included:

• Nepotism: Clergy members giving ecclesiastical positions to members of their own families.
• Niccolaism: Priests getting married, contrary to Church doctrine.
• Simony: Ecclesiastical positions being sold for money.