Social And Government Changes In The Middle Ages

Major changes that took place in Europe where changes such as social and government changes form the “Middle Ages” to the “Renaissance era”. The Renaissance lead to many different regions of Europe to change government styles leading to political, religious, and cultural changes. “The term Renaissance means “rebirth,” and it applied to what people in the modern era thought was a rebirth of civilization lost during the Middle Ages”. This was seen as a great change from the lost generation that had previously passed. Majority of people excepted the cultural change and supported the changing government, leading to people beginning to view their selves in a different way.

The Renaissance originated in Italy where they did not have a feudal economy like most of Europe. The economy was tightly dependent on trade since it was closely connected to the Middle East and Silk Road. Wealth supported a

healthy trade where resources where needed by the individuals who where wealthy. During this time wealthy families usually controlled many governments leading to the outbreak of many small wars over land. Eventually wealthy families that controlled trade routs in Italy had to hire mercenaries to protect them selves and there trade routs.

Church corruption and religious conflicts during the 1500’s lead to changes and reforms in different religions.

Reforms such, as “Council of Trent 1545-1563” was one of the largest reforms inside the Roman Catholic Church. ‘’This council defined traditional Catholic theology and condemned the Protestants. It also laid out guidelines for internal reform for the Church. Its goals were to fight corruption in the Church and to define what exactly it means to be Catholic and why’’. “The Council of Trent asserted a few things. It reasserted the authority of the pope, stated that the Latin Vulgate was the only true canon of the Church, stated that only the Roman Catholic Church had the right to interpret Scripture, it reaffirmed the practice of indulgences but discouraged their sale, reaffirmed the seven sacraments of the Church, reaffirmed traditional Catholic theology, and created the Index of Prohibited Books in order to limit the circulation of heretical ideas”. Foundations and ideas in the Roman Catholic church where established and changed for the future during this

time.

Religious wars in France, Spain, and England occurred during the 1500’s. From 1562 to 1594 chaos broke out in France over religious influence and control. These wars consisted of many small skirmishes just like the battles fought in the Hundred Years war. Many of the Wars that lead to heavy blood shed where fought between the Catholics and Protestants. In 1598, the Edict of Nantes granted religious freedom for worship in all of France, for the first time in a long time France seen a period of piece.

Russia in the fifteenth century was heavily focused on territorial expansion. The Russian expansion would push all the way to the Baltic Sea removing the Mongol’s hold on the southeastern portion of Europe. The expansion of territory would shift Russia’s nation into a multicultural empire. Expanding territories that possess different cultures than your own can eventually create a mixture of both cultures. In order to continue the support the expansions Russia armed their armies with muskets and cannons to insert military power. Along with the Expansions, power shifts in the government lead to a majority of government power to increase for Ivan IV. Eventually Ivan would create a new tax system and secrete policies that would earn him the name “The Terrible”.