Unit 5, chapter 10, lesson3

The growth of European Kingdoms

1. What lead tto the conflicts between kings and nobles in the high middle ages?
The domination of society by the nobility reached its peak in the high middle
ages, Monarchs also tried ot expend their power. This lead to frequent conflict between
the kings and nobles.

2. What are the benefits of common law over local law codes? Every one was held to the
same standards which makes it more fair
3. Identify important events in England, France and Holy Roman empire during High middle
ages?
a. Invasion of England by French king, william of normandy
b. France had a strong leaders who expanded their income and power
c. The leaders of Holy Roman Empire tried to re-create the empire but eventually
defeated
4. How did society and legal system in England evolve after 1066?
Angles and Saxons, Germanic peoples form Northern Europe had invaded
England in early fifth century. Since King Alfred the great had united various kingdoms in
the late ninth century, England had been ruled by Anglo-saxon Kings. When Norman
Knights under William of Normady defeated King Harold in teh Battle of Hastings, the
french speaking norman ruling class began to mingle with anglo-saxon nobility forming a
mixed society. The anglo saxon and french merged into new English Language. William
developed more fully developed taxation.
Henry II enlarged the power of English monarchy and hence the number of
criminal cased tried in the King’s court increased/ they took away property cased from
local courts and moved to royal courts. By expanding the power of royal courts, Henry
expanded the king’s overall power. Because the royal courts were now found throughout
England, a body of common law was created which replaced law codes from place to
place.
The nobles were not happy about the increasing power of the king. They forced
King John to sign a document called Magna Carta or the great charter. This document
gave written recognition to the feudal custom that the relationship between the king and
vassals was based on mutual rights and obligations. The ideas contained in the magna
carta continue to impact the governments in the present day. Politically, it gives strength
to the idea that power of a government is limited, not absolute. Legally the Magna carta
limits King’s power to punish people outside the rule of law.
During the reign of Edward I, an important institution oin the development of
representative government ( one of the basic institutions of modern democratic
governments)- the parliament also emerged. It was composed of two knights from every
country, two people from every town and all the nobles and Bishops through out
England. Eventually, the nobles and church lords formed the House of Lords, Knights
and townspeople, formed the House of commons.
5. Why was the reign of King Philip II Augustus a turning point in the French monarchy?
The reign of Philip II Augustus, was a turning point in the French monarchy,
expanding its income and power. Philip fought wars against the English to take control of
the French territories of Normandy, Maine, Anjou, and Aquitaine. Philip's successors
continued to add lands to the royal domain.

6. Why did the lands of Germany and Italy not become United during the Middle ages?
In the tenth century, the powerful dukes of the Saxons became kings of the
eastern Frankish kingdom, which came to be known as Germany. As leaders of a new
Roman Empire, the German kings attempted to rule both German and Italian lands.
Frederick's attempt to conquer northern Italy led to severe problems. The pope opposed
him, fearing that he wanted to include Rome and the Papal States as part of his empire.
The cities of northern Italy, which had become used to their freedom, were also unwilling
to become his subjects. An alliance of these northern Italian cities and the pope defeated
the forces of Frederick I.
The struggle between popes and German emperors had dire consequences for
the Holy Roman Empire. By spending their time fighting in Italy, the emperors left
Germany in the hands of powerful German lords. These nobles ignored the emperor and
created their own independent kingdoms. This made the German monarchy weak and
incapable of maintaining a strong monarchical state.
In the end, the German Holy Roman Emperor had no real power over either the
German states or the Italian states. Unlike France and England, neither Germany nor
Italy created a national monarchy in the Middle Ages. Both Germany and Italy consisted
of many small independent states and territories.

7. Which slavic people formed new kingdoms in eastern and central europe?
The Slavic peoples were originally a single people in central Europe. Gradually,
they divided into three major groups: the western, southern, and eastern Slavs.
Western slavs formed the Polish and Bohemian kingdoms. The easten slavic
people settled in present day Ukraine and Russia. . Southern slavic people included
coats, the serb and the Bulgarians.