HIS109Y1 Lecture : Realignment of Europe.docx
Document Summary
Almost every aspect of european life was being changed due to pressure. Europe had v. diff. boundaries & concepts of the state after the reformation; new states were created. & old ones were dissolved during the religious wars. Not only was europe internally unstable, but instability was being thrust upon the european continent. European tendency to address fundamental issues through warfare. Shift of power away from the mediterranean at end of 15th century, becoming a v. dangerous place, Beginning of return of long-distance trade, italy developed economically as a result & was able to spread concentrated wealth through much of euro. Facilitation of trade involved development of vehicles (banking, insurance, ship-building, etc. ) that would permit faraway economies to grow. 1453: fall of constantinople to ottoman turks (eventually all of byzantine empire fell to ottoman turks. & much of the wealth from venice was effected b/c of the trade they did w/ the byzantines) led to war (to protect trading connections)