Paper A : World history(1500-1870 a.d.)

1. The renaissance and reformation

Feudalism Feudalism was the way of life in Europe during the middle

ages. It controlled the politics, the financial affairs, the government an the society of times. The feudal form of society vegan to appear in Western Europe around the middle of 9th century and reached its height in the early 12th and 13th centuries. It continued to wide a considerable influence in the continent even up to the beginning of nineteenth century. Feudalism had its roots in early German and Roman institutions, the word feudal comes from a Latin word feudum which means a landed estate or group of estates held by a person in return for military services to the recognized owner of the land. Feudalism was the system by which the nobles of the Middle ages kept the ownership and control of their lands.

Chief Features of Feudalism1. King the owner of land2. Barons o lords3. Serfs4. Oath of allegiance and investiture5. Manor6. Church

Causes of Decline of Feudalism1. Rise of strong monarchies2. Maintenance of standing army3. Use of gun powder4. Crusades5. Rise of cities and towns6. Rise of middle class7. Beginning of state Crrency8. Black death, 1348-499. Decrease in the power of the Popes10. Spread of Education11. Destruction of feudal lords in mutual warfare & European wars12. Revolts of Farmers13. Rise of Nationalism14. Rise of capitalistic Economy15. Development of Democracy

Renaissance Causes of Renaissance1. Crusades2. Capture of constantinople by the Turks3. Rise of Mongolian Empire4. Decline feudalism5. Invention of printing press6. Developments of cities and towns7. Role of wealthy influential individuals8. Role of the clergy9. Emergence of a new concept- humanism10.Development of science11.Geographical discoveriesConclusion

Renaissance on the social, cultural, political and economic life of people

Social effects1. Rise of the spirit of Humanism 2. The spirit of enquiry and rational thinking3. Increase in the status of women4. Development of new manners and etuquettes5. Moral chaosCultural effects6. Development of literature 7. Progress of modern education8. Development of fine arts9. Development of science10. Emergence of archeology and development historiography 11. Geographical discoveries

Economic effects1. New thoughts in economic field2. Rise of capitalism3. Development of new rich classPolitical effects4. Rise of absolute monarchy5. Rise of middle class6. Rise of nationalism7. Corruption in politicsReligious effects8. Weakened the authority of church

2. Rise of the Absolutist state

Causes of the rise of absolute monarchy and its main featuresI. Causesi. Impact of the crusadesii. Established of national stateiii. Renaissanceiv. Reformationv. Use of gun powder by the kingvi. Need of powerful monarchyvii. Growth of trade and townsviii. Mercantilismix. Influence of contemporary scholars and thinkers Jean

Bodin(1530-1596), Niccolo Machiavelly (1469-1527), Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679).

x. Role off the powerful despots