Rise of Kingdoms

I. Western Europe

A. England

1. William's conquest in 1066 places him in a uniquely strong position

2. being on the periphery of Europe doesn't hurt

3. Europe's strongest monarchy faces its limits

a. conflict between church and King Henry II--murder in the Cathedral
b. conflict between lords and King John --Magna Carta

c. evolution of Parliament

B. France

1. king is very weak in 1150

2. struggle against English power
a. Philip II (12th century) up to Joan of Arc (15th century)

3. St. Louis: Crusader and Lawgiver (1226-70)

4. Philip IV (1285-1314)

a. solidifies control of money and church
b. Established Estates General to fortify royal power
c. Confronts Pope Boniface III

C. Spain

1. royal crusades

2. but divided into several kingdoms

II. Central Europe

A. Frederick I (1152-1190) and the dream of a Holy Roman Empire

1. seeks to gain effective control of Italy
2. Pope organizes Italian cities to resist, excommunicates Frederick
3. Cities and Pope defeat emperor, 1176

4. Frederick dies on crusade

B. Frederick II (1215-1250)
1. Breaks vow to pope not to try to unite Italy
2. Fulfills promise for crusade in a way that upsets the pope
3. Pope calls crusade against Frederick

III. Why great kingdoms were, or were not built, and why it matters

A. Relation of kings with cities

1. kings and cities forge bond in Western Europe

2. kings and cities in conflict in central Europe

B. Relation of kings with nobility

1. conflict in all parts of Europe

2. Western Europe finds balance between advantages and disadvantages of unity

C. Relation of kings and church

1. Western monarchs gain control of church in their kingdoms

2. Pope more successful in battling secular control in central Europe

D. Historical importance of the difference between Western and Central Europe

1. Monarchs grow in strength at the expense of the church
2. English and French begin to develop government by consultation

3. Germany and Italy fail to unite as nations for next 700 years