9
9. The early modern age. Humanism and the Renaissance
175
EUROPE AT THE END OF THE 15TH CENTURY
SAXONY
PORTUGAL
NAVARRA
GRANADA
ARAGÓN
FRANCE
SWISS
CONFEDERATION
HOLY ROMAN
EMPIRE
AUSTRIA
GENOA
ENGLAND
TEUTONIC
ORDER
POLAND
HUNGARY
MONTENEGRO
NAPLES
DENMARK
NORWAY
SWEDEN
FINLAND
TEUTONIC
ORDER
RUSSIA
O T T OMA N E M P I R E
SCOTLAND
CASTILLA
M
ILAN
C
YPRUS
(V
ENICE
)
C
RETE
(V
ENICE
)
P
APAL
S
TATES
V
ENICE
I
TALIAN
S
TATES
B
URGUNDY
V
ENICE
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
BLACK SEA
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
Limits of the Holy
Roman Empire
Eastern Europe
❚
The Ottoman (Turkish) Empire expanded during the 15th century. Mehmed II ‘the Conqueror’ took control of Constantinople and a
large part of the Balkan Peninsula. Selim I then conquered Syria, Egypt and part of Arabia. Suleiman I ‘the Magnificent’ took control
of northern Africa and subdued Hungary, but he was stopped in Austria by the German Emperor.
❚
The Russian monarchy expanded its territories with the conquests of Ivan III ‘the Great’ in the 15th century and Ivan IV ‘the Terrible’
in the 16th century. The Russian monarchs adopted the title of tsar or emperor.
❚
The Polish monarchy covered extensive territories after its unification with Lithuania. However, it was a weak, not very centralised
kingdom.
Understand
12.
What changes enabled some of the monarchs of this
period to increase their power over the nobility?
13.
What are the main differences between an
authoritarian monarchy and a feudal monarchy?
14.
Which territories of the European continent remained
divided during the Early Modern Age?
15.
What were the main kingdoms in Eastern Europe?
Apply
16.
Study the map of Europe at the end of the 15th
century.
❚
Write a brief paragraph to describe it.
❚
Which states came into conflict and in which regions?
Understand
17.
Many monarchs had a descriptive nickname. Find out
the reasons for some of the nicknames mentioned in
the text.
