13: Development of State

Question 1

How was term ‘state’ used in the middle ages?

Answer 1

‘status imperii’ The Empire

‘status regni’: the kingdom

Question 2

Key aspects of a early forms of states

4 things

Answer 2

B) Centralisation

c) Taxation
d) Parliament
e) War (act of sovereignty)

Question 3

B) Centralisation

Answer 3

Began with centralised royal courts as a way of monarchs controlling lords.
France, England and Italy became very centralised.
- proveditori in Venice who acted as intermediaries between the govt. and mercenaries
-English war of the roses 1455-65 led to Henry VII sealing control.
- Henry II founded English common law in 13th c

Question 4

C) Taxation:

Answer 4

Monarchs began to increase taxation and monitoring of land in order to unify and control larger areas.
- E.g. Albert in 1086 AS chronicle doomsday book highlights how he sent men to count all the ‘hides’ of land for taxation.

Question 5

D) Parliament:

Answer 5

Under Henry III in 13th c, English Parliaments incorperated elected representatives from shires and towns: these parliaments seen as the forerunners of modern parliament

• BY late 14th C: Parliament had formed same as modern structure dividing into 2 seperate bodies
• Medieval parliament in England pre-cursor to huge transformations made under Henry VIII

Question 6

E)

War

Answer 6

In late medieval period war was the fundamental force of change. War > Money (defence armies) > Growth of Government (central offices to house parliament raise money for war) > Centralisation as result of growth of government
- Parliament used as a way of raising funds for war e.g. ‘french are coming’.
- Venice one of the first to develop a permanent army in 15th c Spending 1/5 of its wealth to do so. Conquests would have cost too much without the tax. Increased tax and central power meant revenue increased e.g. in Spain increased 1000% in 15th c and 200% in Frnce/eng
Conc: Warfare changed fiscal capacity of states

Question 7

Rise of Monarchical power france/eng

Answer 7

Monarchs lacked power as they relied on vassals for military support

• In England, Henry II increased power through elective parliaments
• IN france Hugh Capet in 990s united them and made monarchy hereditary. Fuedal lords chose him as he was weak but he turned it in his favour increasing royal power. Gov officials put tax