Today we will visit three European countries at once. Lesson topic: A difficult path to the triumph of royalty. Plan: 1. The Duchy of Burgundy: the emergence and flourishing. 2. Louis XI and Charles the Bold. 3. War of the Scarlet and White Roses. 4. Completion of the Reconquista and the unification of Spain. 5. Religious policy of Catholic kings.
1 ... What happened to royalty in France after the Hundred Years War? Intensified. Now it was necessary to overcome the resistance of large feudal lords and complete the unification of the country. Charles VII's son Louis XI (1461-1483) had to wage difficult wars against the feudal nobility, who entered into an alliance against him in order to maintain their power. This opposition was headed by the Duchy of Burgundy, created in this form in the XIV century. the very same French crown.
Soon after the Battle of Poitiers, King John II handed over the Duchy of Burgundy to his son Philip as a reward for the loyalty and bravery shown in the battle. His successors successfully expanded their holdings. The dukes held part of their lands as fiefs from the French king, and other possessions were part of the empire. The dukes hoped to receive the royal title from the emperor and cease to be vassals of the French king. Karl the Bold was especially active in this direction.
2. We read from. 208. Let's compare the character traits of Charles the Bold and Louis XI. What methods did they use? Whose actions were more effective? How did Louis complete the unification of the country? What is centralization? Centralization - the subordination of local authorities - to a single central - the king.
3. Now we go to England. Which dynasty ruled England since 1154? Under King Henry VI of the Lank dynasty a Sterov (a side branch of the Plantagenets) was actually ruled by his French wife. This displeased the king's relative, the Duke of York. The ancestral emblem of the Lancaster was the scarlet rose, the Yorkie was the white one. Therefore, the war that broke out was called the War of the Scarlet and White Rose (1455-1485) .
This war was notable for its rare brutality. The fuel element was numerous professional soldiers, who, after the defeat in the war with France, were out of work and, being in large numbers within England, posed a serious danger to royal power. War was a familiar craft for these people, so they willingly hired themselves to serve with the great English barons, who significantly replenished their armies at their expense. King of France and helped York and Lancaster in their fight against each other. Provided them with military forces and financial assistance. What for? They wanted to prevent the emergence of a strong and united England, which would become their enemy. As a result of the war, almost all of the English aristocracy was destroyed.
A distant relative of the Lancasters, Heinrich Tud, took advantage of the situation. O R. At the Battle of Bosworth, he defeated the troops of Richard of York and was crowned right on the battlefield. So a new Tudor dynasty arose in England, which ruled England until the beginning of the 17th century. Having married a representative of the York dynasty, Henry VII partially reconciled with their supporters and combined both roses - scarlet and white - in his coat of arms.
How did the War of the Scarlet and White Rose differ from the struggle between Charles the Bold and Louis XI? (There are many differences, but the main thing is that in the first case it was about an attempt by Burgundy, and behind it and other feudal possessions to maintain their isolation from the royal power, in the second - who exactly and on what conditions will rule the country, which has long been united. )
4 ... Spain. Which Spanish kingdoms do you know? (Castile and Aragon.) Who captured the Iberian Peninsula in the 8th century? Arabs. The development of medieval Spain was greatly influenced by Reconkandone hundred (reconquest) - The conquest of the territory of the Iberian Peninsula from the Arabs stretching for almost eight centuries. Christian states arose in the territories liberated from the Arabs: Castile, Aragon, Portugal and others. The centuries of the Reconquista were not a time of continuous battles. War gave way to peaceful contacts, and Christians learned a lot from Spanish Muslims. By the middle of the XIII century, only a small Gran remained under the rule of the Arabs. a emirate of the country, which had a thriving economy and a surprisingly high level of culture. He no longer posed a real danger to Christians.
In 1469 the Castilian princess Isabella married the Aragonese prince Fernando (Ferdinand). Isabella soon inherited the Castilian throne and Fernando became king of Aragon. Such a union of two monarchies under the single authority of a married couple is called dynastic at nia (from the Latin word "unio" - union). The union of Castile and Aragon did not mean the final formation of a single state (in the absence of a son-heir and the remarriage of one of the spouses, it could disintegrate), but it became an important step towards its creation.
Having completed the unification of the country, Fernando and Isabella achieved considerable success in centralization. We fill in the diagram (p. 214).
Author detailsShiryaeva Zinaida Vyacheslavovna
Place of work, position:
MOU-OOSh s. Golden Steppe, Teacher of the highest category
Saratov region
Lesson characteristics (lessons)
The target audience:
Student (student)
Class (s):
Item (s):
Story
The purpose of the lesson:
By analyzing and comparing the historical path of France, England, Spain, reveal the difficulties and peculiarities of the completion of the unification and the beginning of the centralization of the system of government in European states. Continue the formation of general educational skills.
Lesson type:
Lesson in studying and primary consolidation of new knowledge
Students in the class:
Used tutorials and tutorials:
Equipment used:
Screen, multimedia projector, computer
Used CRC:
presentation "The Difficult Path to the Triumph of Royal Power"
Short description:
History lesson of the Middle Ages using multimedia presentation
1. Organization of the class.
2. Knowledge check:
A.Test chart of 10 questions. After the answers (questions are displayed on the screen) in the form of pluses or dots on the positions "yes", "no", they are connected by a line and surrender to the teacher. Correct answers are highlighted on the screen, the graph of the answer to the test is shown on the board.
B.Question: (oral answer) What is the difference between the Hundred Years War and the previous wars of the Middle Ages?
Answer plan: (on the board) - duration,
What was the struggle for
The attitude of the people and knights to war,
Methods of warfare.
Estimated answers: the longest in history, the struggle was for the Motherland, for
independence, for the unification of the country, bright
manifestations of patriotism, partisan methods
waging war.
V.2 - 3 students at this time answer on the cards "Beginning ..." and
"End of the Hundred Years War".
3. After checking knowledge, a preliminary summing up and assessment follows, motivation for further activities. Later, throughout the lesson, children's participation in the work (answers, their questions, etc.) is encouraged by cards, which by the end of the lesson turn into a full grade (red - 5, yellow - 4, green - 3). Important concepts, names, dates are written down in a notebook.
4. Learning new material.
Cards of France, England, Spain are revealed.
In all these countries at the end Xv century ended the union. We know the beginning of this process in France and England. XI - XII centuries. What can we learn about its end? (Estimated answers: how it ended, what difficulties, peculiarities of the unification can be noted in different countries.)
Yes, this is our goal for today's lesson - by means of comparison to reveal the difficulties and features of the completion of the unification of European states.
A map of France is opened.
The lily has long been the symbol of France. But look at the map - the contours of the country resemble a flower, but this lily is ugly, unfinished
The king of France, despite the victory in the Hundred Years War, had many problems related to the strengthening of power, the subordination of large feudal lords. Look at the possessions of the Counts of Burgundy: if these lands become part of the country, then the outline of the lily will receive full completion (the flower will form), and the country will complete the unification. The earls of Burgundy were vassals of the French king (remember their behavior during the Hundred Years War), but they did not respect the vassal oath. The king needed to complete the creation of his beautiful "flower". With whom did he have to fight?
The words "He ..." and the portrait of Karl the Bold are revealed.
Intelligence, generosity, personal courage, arrogance, ardor, a tendency to make rash decisions. Are all of Karl's traits positive? What could hinder him in the struggle for independence?
We continue to work with the map on the screen, in the tutorial (p. 253). It is noted that part of the lands of the Counts of Burgundy was within the Holy Roman Empire (Luxembourg, Lorraine). The count's claims to the crown of the empire are announced. The words "He did not risk it ..." appear.
Are you talking about one person or about different people? (About different).
Yes, this is a characteristic of Louis XI , the French king, nicknamed the Spider. (Images)
Let's determine if this nickname was correct?
Work is underway with the textbook. (Students find a matching characteristic.)
What character traits could help Louis XI in the fight against Karl the Bold?
Shows footage of victory at Nancy and a lily flower.
What were the actions of the king of France aimed at? (To unite the country, create a single state).
But putting the land together is half the battle. It is necessary to carry out the C E N -
T R A L I Z A C I Y of the country.
Work is underway on a new concept.
The map of England is opened.
After the end of the Hundred Years War, thousands of disappointed people returned to England, for whom the war was their life's work. The situation in the country sharply aggravated, any weakening of the royal power threatened with riots. The struggle to strengthen the royal power resulted in the war of the Scarlet and White Roses.
Work is in progress with the screen, flowers, portraits, dates.
What did Henry manage to do Vii Tudor? (Unite the country).
Work continues with the concept of "centralization".
- What was similar in the history of two states: France and England in the second half Xv century? (Answers: unification ended, centralization was carried out, which it included, energetic individuals acted not always by right means).
A map of Spain opens.
At about the same time as in France, the unification of Spain was completed. It took place against the background of the Reconquista.
Work is underway with new concepts, with a map, dates, portraits of the rulers of Castile and Aragon, the peculiarities of the unification of Spain are noted. The final footage depicts the attempt of the kings of Spain to create common faith, as a guarantee of the country's unity and strength, and the opposite result.
- (The main question) What was common in the development of France, England, Spain in the second half of the fifteenth century?
5. Summing up the results of the lesson, the result of achieving the goal, student assessment.
6. Assignment at home:§ 26, answer questions; individual assignments - prepare messages about Karl the Bold, Louis XI and (ahead of) Casimir the Great.
Cards:Insert missing words, dates.
"The beginning of the Hundred Years War"
The longest war in the history of mankind began in ________. The French kings tried to complete the unification of the country, the English kings sought to regain the Angevin power. The war went unsuccessfully for the French. In 1346, the British won a victory at ___________.
The possessions of the English king in France gradually grew. The real trouble for the French was the English Prince Edward, nicknamed "_____________________________" for the color of his armor. He won many victories, constantly making predatory raids deep into France. In September 1356, near the city of ______________, his detachment overtook an army led by the king of France himself. The knights, led by __________, went on the attack. _____________ the prince skillfully positioned his archers, while the French acted scattered. As a result, the French suffered a crushing defeat. Several thousand knights led by __________ were captured.
Answers:1337; Crissy; "Black Prince"; Poitiers; John II ; English; king (option - John II).
"End of the Hundred Years War"
In August ______, King Henry of England V renewed the war. In October 1415, the two armies met near the city of ______________. The French suffered a crushing defeat.
The situation in France became especially difficult after the Duke of __________________, betraying the interests of France, entered into an alliance with the British. France is threatened with the loss of __________________________________.
However, Karl's son VI declared himself king Charles Vii All French patriots rallied around him. Partisan war broke out in the country. In 1428, a peasant girl named ___________ appeared to the king. At the head of the army entrusted to her by Charles, she was able to lift the siege from the important city _____________ in just 10 days.
The enthusiastic patriots took up arms against the invaders across the country. The British suffered one defeat after another. Accused of witchcraft, the Maid of Orleans was burned at the stake in 1431. But this did not affect the outcome of the war. It ended in ______.
Answers:1415; Agincourt; Burgundy; national independence; Jeanne D Arc; Orleans; 1453.
DynastyVALUA
1328 - 1589.
Philip IV Handsome - brother Karl Valois ..
Daughter Philip VI
Edward III
King of England John II - handed over to his son Philip the Brave
Duchy of Burgundy
Henry V Charles V
He died in 1420.
Charles VI son
Charles VII son Philip the Good
Louis X1Carl the Bold
1461-1483 1433-1477
Causes of the War The war broke out over the possession of Aquitaine, a region of France that had been ruled by England since the 12th century. In addition, England and France fought for influence in wealthy Flanders: the feudal lords of Flanders were loyal vassals of the Capetian, and the Flanders cities sought to develop trade and economic ties with England
The reason for the war was a dynastic situation: in 1328, the last representative of the Capetian royal family, Charles V., died without leaving an heir. 16-year-old Edward III, King of England, the only grandson of Philip IV, declared himself a contender for the throne. But the members of the assembly of the highest French nobility, referring to the Salic truth, where it was written that the land was not transferred through the female line, rejected the claims of Edward III. The crown was handed over to Philip V of Valois, the Capetian sideline. Then Edward III decided to achieve his rights with the help of weapons. Reason for war Philip III Saint Philip IV Handsome Louis X Grumpy Philip V Long Isabella French Charles of Valois John I 1316 Edward II, King of England Edward III King of England Charles V Handsome Philip VI of Valois
Power balance England A small but well-organized army. The knights with their squads obeyed the orders of the commander-in-chief and acted together with the infantry. At the head of the British were talented military leaders -. Black Prince (Prince Edward) France Large, but less organized army. Only part of the army was subject to the king. The heavily armed knights acted independently and did not want to obey anyone. For the knights, the main thing in battle was not to lose their honor. The knights despised the foot soldiers and considered them useless in battle. The lack of interaction between cavalry and infantry made them vulnerable to the enemy.
The beginning of the war () the British launched an offensive in Picardy, and then won a victory at sea at Slays 1340 - the British won victories at sea (Battle of Slays) and on land (Battle of Crécy), the British captured the port city of Calais Edward - Prince of Wales (Black Prince ) defeated the French knights at Poitiers and captured the French king John II. Good year, peace was made in Bretigny, through which France lost land south of the Loire (about a third of the country) and the port of Calais. Slays 1337, 1340 Crécy 1340 Bretigny 1360 Calais 1346 Poitiers 1356
Continuation of the war () The second period of the war (years) was marked by the transition of France to the offensive and the liberation of most of the occupied territories. The peace concluded in 1360 was a necessary respite, which allowed the French to somewhat improve the internal political situation in the country and strengthen the army and navy. The system of recruiting troops was streamlined, fortresses were erected, artillery was improved, and a strong fleet was created. However, France is weakened by popular uprisings and the struggle for power between the two feudal parties.
Time of new successes for England () the English king Henry V defeated the French at Agincourt, subdued Normandy and other regions of France. France remained, as in 1356, without an army and money, a peace was signed in Troyes, according to which Henry V became regent of France during the life of Charles VI, the French crown was to pass to him or his heir after the death of Charles VI. In addition, Henry V married the daughter of Charles VI, Catherine, so that their children in the future would really embody the fact of the unification of the crowns. The son of Charles VI, the Dauphin Charles was deprived of his inheritance rights. Agincourt 1415 Troyes 1420
The end of the war () In 1429, France was dismembered into three parts: on the lands actually conquered by the British (here the power of Henry VI was recognized); on areas under the political influence of the Duke of Burgundy; in the territory (mainly in the south of the country), where the authority of Charles VII was recognized - the siege of Orleans by the British. The beginning of the popular movement for the liberation of France, led by Jeanne D "Arc 1429 - the coronation of Charles VII in Reims 1431 - the Duke of Burgundy recognized Charles VII as king of France and concluded an alliance with him 1436 - Paris came under the control of the French - the French army defeated the Norman the city of Caen - the surrender of the English garrison in Bordeaux Orleans Bordeaux 1453 Reims 1429 Caen 1450 Paris 1436
From the Letter of Jeanne D "Ark to the English king" You, the king of England ... do justice to the King of Heaven, give the maiden sent here by God, the Heavenly King, the keys to all the cities that you took and abused in France. She came here from God ... She quite ready to come to a peace agreement, namely: if you ... return France and pay for what you owned. If you do not, then I will take over the leadership of the war, and I will force your people to leave, willing or unwilling. will want to obey, I will destroy them all, if they want to obey, I will have mercy on them ... King Charles, the true heir, will rule the French kingdom, for this is what God wants ... efforts will not be able to repel her and her good military comrades ... "On what conditions did Jeanne D" Ark offer the English king to make peace? What did she threaten in case of non-acceptance of her conditions? Why was Jeanne D "Arc confident in the victory of France?
Strengthening royal power in France Despite the damage caused by the war, the French quickly rebuilt their economy. The feudal lords wanted to return to the times of fragmentation and during the reign of Louis XI they created an alliance headed by Charles of Burgundy. He wanted to see 6 sovereigns in the country instead of one. The struggle between the king and Charles lasted 12 years. Not being a brave warrior, Louis XI acted like a diplomat: he played off his opponents and dealt with them one by one. As a result, Burgundy, Provence, Marseille, Brittany were annexed to France. The unification of the country led to the strengthening of royal power. The king instead of the detachments of vassals created a standing army, which was supported by the tax. The king decided all matters of his own free will. Officials helped him to run the country. The King has ceased to convene the States-General
Strengthening of royal power in England At the end of the Hundred Years War, civil strife broke out in England. Two lines of the Plantagenet royal dynasty - Lancaster and York, fought for the throne. This conflict was called the WAR OF THE SCARLET AND WHITE ROSE (there was a scarlet rose in the Lancaster coat of arms, and a white rose in the York coat of arms). As a result of the bloody war () Henry VII, the founder of the Tudor dynasty, became king. Having married Edward IV's daughter Elizabeth, the heiress of York, he combined scarlet and white roses in his coat of arms. The new king disbanded the detachments of the feudal lords, destroyed castles, and executed many opponents. Henry VII monitored the replenishment of the treasury and took "war money" even when he was not waging wars. Continuing to convene parliament, he introduced his supporters into the House of Lords, and the knights in the House of Commons passed any law.
Appendix 1. The Valois dynasty in the XIV-XV centuries Philip VI Valois John II Good Charles the Wise Charles VI Mad Isabella of Bovarian Louis, Duke of Orleans and Angouleme Charles VII Catherine Henry V, King of England Isabella Richard II, King of England Louis XI Charles VIII,
Appendix 2. The Plantagenet dynasty in the XIV-XV centuries Edward III Plantagenet Philip Genegau Edward, Black Prince Richard II John of Gaunt, Earl of Lancaster Henry IV Lancaster Henry V Lancaster Henry VI Lancaster Catherine of Valois Edmund, Duke of York Richard, Earl of Cambridge Richard, Duke of York Edward IV York George Duke of Clarence Richard III York Edward V York 1483 Richard, Duke of York Elizabeth of York Henry VII Tudor Isabella of Valois John Beaufort John Beaufort II Margaret Tudor
Teacher: "The Decline of the Middle Ages" was the final stage in the formation of national united states. Today we will look at this process using the examples of France and England. Let's start with the history of long-suffering France.
Scientist-archivist: The finest hour of Burgundy. After the end of the Hundred Years War, the strengthening of royal power in France sought to overcome the resistance of large feudal lords and complete the unification of the country.
Charles VII's son Louis XI (1461-1483) had to wage difficult wars against the feudal nobility, who entered into an alliance against him in order to maintain their power and prevent further strengthening of royal power. The soul of this union was the powerful dukes of Burgundy. Soon after the Battle of Poitiers, King John II handed over the Duchy of Burgundy to his son Philip as a reward for the loyalty and bravery shown in the battle. Thanks to a profitable marriage, Philip the Brave acquired Flanders, and his successors successfully expanded their possessions. The dukes held part of their lands as fiefs from the French king, and other possessions were part of the empire. The dukes hoped to receive the royal title from the emperor and break the bonds of vassalage to the French king. The last of the dukes, Charles the Bold, even dreamed of the imperial title and the creation of a great power from the North to the Mediterranean. His state was then, perhaps, the richest in Europe. The Burgundian court was immersed in luxury, its magnificent ceremony was imitated by other monarchs. Knightly ideals were preserved here, tournaments were held. In real life, there was less and less room for these ideals. In a real war, they fought in a completely different way than in tournaments, so that the belated age of chivalry at the Burgundian court was a kind of game, refined and sublime.
Senor against the vassal. Duke Charles the Bold, like his predecessors, was proud of his position, but he strove for more. Arrogant, hot-tempered and brave to the point of recklessness, Charles was extremely burdened by his vassal dependence on the French king. The way he wanted to see France is evidenced by his words: "I love France so much that I would prefer to have six sovereigns instead of one." Karl was not able to wait, make concessions, and even more humiliation in order to achieve the ultimate goal.
The complete opposite of the rebellious vassal was his lord. It is not by chance that Louis XI was nicknamed the spider. An intelligent and far-sighted politician, he strove to unite the country and strengthen his power, and in order to achieve his goal he was ready to wait for years and did not disdain by any means. With enemies, he was mercilessly cruel. The king despised the ideals of chivalry, loved to consult his barber about state affairs, and was sparing of spending in everything related to luxurious festivities and attire. But he did not spare money on rewarding loyal servants and bribing enemies, perfectly mastered the art of intrigue. Not devoid of personal courage, the king did not like to make the outcome of his plans dependent on the outcome of the battle, where any accidents are possible. More than once he corrected at the negotiating table what seemed hopelessly lost on the battlefield. In the end, Louis XI achieved his goal by skillfully setting his enemies against Charles the Bold. In 1477, at the battle of Nance, Charles the Bold suffered a crushing defeat from the Lorraine, whose lands he wanted to annex, and he himself died on the battlefield.
Taking advantage of the fact that the duke had no sons, Louis XI immediately sent troops to Burgundy and other French possessions of Charles the Bold and annexed them to his domain. Having got rid of the main enemy, Louis XI then one by one dealt with the rest. At the end of his life, he managed to annex Provence in the southeast, and soon after his death, the Duchy of Brittany became part of the royal possessions. Thus, by the end of the 15th century, the unification of France was completed.
The next stage was centralization - the real subordination of the united territory to the authority of the king. The highest nobility, as a rule, retained their possessions, but lost their former independence. The taxes required to maintain a standing army and numerous officials rose sharply. The freedoms and privileges of individual lands, cities or estates were limited. The power of the king at this time was so strong that Louis XI did not need constant support from the estates and collected the States General only once.
Teacher: Now let's move from France, where the unification ended, to England.
Archaeologist: War of the Scarlet and White Roses. After the end of the Hundred Years War, thousands of disappointed people returned to England, for whom the war was their life's work.
The situation in the country sharply aggravated, any weakening of royal power threatened with internal turmoil. Soon a long bloody struggle for power began between two cliques of the feudal nobility. This war, despite such a romantic name, which it received for the presence of these flowers on the coats of arms of warring families, was fought with extraordinary cruelty and treachery.
Treason and bloody reprisals against the vanquished followed each other. The chivalrous ideals of honor and loyalty were forgotten, many barons moved from camp to camp, depending on where they were promised a more generous reward.
After the death of King Edward IV of the York dynasty, the eldest of his young sons was to inherit the throne. But the late king's brother Richard declared the nephews illegitimate and himself took the crown under the name of Richard III (1483-1485).
An extraordinary ruler, Richard III pursued a sensible policy, began to rebuild the war-torn country. But his enemies did not sleep either. In 1485, a distant relative of the Lankasters, Henry Tudor, landed with an army in England. The two troops met at Bosworth. At the decisive moment of the battle, Richard was changed by his entourage, and his personal courage could no longer affect anything. Richard refused to flee and died, remaining king of England. Right on the battlefield, the crown was laid on the winner - Henry VII Tudor (1485-1509).
Having come to power, Henry VII did everything to discredit his former enemy, to present him as an evil freak-hunchback, who paved the way to the throne on the corpses of his own relatives. The accusation of cold-blooded murder of young nephews languishing in the Tower fell on Richard especially hard. However, there is no direct evidence of his guilt, and for Henry VII, the death of the offspring of the House of York was much more profitable than for Richard. The mystery of the death of the young princes remains unsolved.
As a result of the war of the Scarlet and White Roses, the Tudor dynasty came to power, which ruled England until the beginning of the 17th century. By marrying a representative of the York dynasty, Henry VII partially reconciled with their supporters and combined both roses - scarlet and white - in his coat of arms. The new king ordered the nobility to disband the military detachments, mercilessly dealing with all who did not want to submit. Henry VII was easy to handle and was not too keen on knightly ceremonies, but he tirelessly cared about replenishing the treasury. During his reign, taxes increased, and the administrative apparatus was strengthened. Parliament still met, but everything was determined by the royal will. The estate-representative monarchy gave way to the unlimited power of the king.
Teacher: In conclusion, consider the process of unification of Spain. At about the same time as in France, the unification of Spain was completed. The development of medieval Spain was greatly influenced by Reconquista- the conquest of the territory of the Iberian Peninsula from the Arabs, who seized it at the beginning of the VIII century, stretching for almost eight centuries. Christian states emerged on the territories liberated from the power of the Arabs: Castile, Aragon, Portugal and others. Gradually, the border moved to the south. Their settlement and economic development by peasants and townspeople helped to consolidate power over the conquered lands. The centuries of the Reconquista were not a time of continuous battles. War gave way to peaceful contacts, and Christians learned a lot from Spanish Muslims. The decisive successes of the Reconquista fell on the XI-XIII centuries. By the middle of the 13th century, only a small Emirate of Granada remained under the rule of the Arabs, which was distinguished by a flourishing economy and a surprisingly high level of culture. He no longer posed a real danger to Christians. The Reconquista stopped for a long time, and the next two centuries were filled with rivalry between the Christian states, as well as the struggle between the royal power and the nobility in each of them.
In 1469 the Castilian princess Isabella married the Aragonese prince Fernando (Ferdinand). After 5 years, Isabella inherited the Castilian throne, and in 1479 Fernando became king of Aragon. Such a union of two monarchies under the single authority of a married couple is called dynastic union The union of Castile and Aragon did not mean the final formation of a single state, because in the absence of a son-heir and the remarriage of one of the spouses, it could disintegrate. However, it became the most important step towards its creation.
Having completed the unification of the country, Fernando and Isabella achieved considerable success in centralization. An efficient administrative apparatus and a strong standing army were created. Having consolidated their power, Fernando and Isabella began a war against the Emirate of Granada, and in 1492 Granada had to surrender. The reconquista is over.
In the struggle for the unity of faith. Since the time of the Reconquista, many Muslims and Jews have lived in the country under the rule of Christian states. For a long time, the attitude towards them in Spain was more tolerant than in other countries, but from the end of the XIV century it sharply deteriorated. Here, too, there was a wave of religious persecution and pogroms. Many gentiles were then forced to officially accept Christianity, but secretly continued to profess the faith of their ancestors. In turn, Christians did not trust the recently converted and sought to convict them of heresy.
Fernando and Isabella were fanatical Catholics, they even received an honorary title from the Pope - Catholic kings. They strove to ensure that in a single state, subjects adhere to a single Catholic faith, and for this they were ready to take tough measures. In 1492, tens of thousands of Jews who did not agree to convert to Christianity were expelled from the country.
Then came the turn of the Muslims. Contrary to the terms of the surrender of Granada, they were forcibly forced to be baptized. And those who persisted in disbelief or heresy were persecuted inquisition introduced in Spain at that time. The Spanish Inquisition was distinguished by its particular mass and cruelty of reprisals. Public burning of heretics - auto-da-fe(which means "act of faith") - was presented to the people as a kind of religious holiday. The desire to achieve unity of faith in the country in a short time cost Spain dearly. Tens of thousands of Jews and Moors left the country in those years, taking with them money, business contacts, skills of crafts and trade. At the same time, religious persecution contributed to the formation of a climate of intolerance and fanaticism in the country.
To summarize: in the 15th century, united centralized states were formed in England, France and the Iberian Peninsula.
