The Modern State emerged from the union of the various fiefs existing on the European continent.
The formation of the Modern State is divided, for study purposes, into four phases:the modern state, liberal state, crisis in the liberal state and liberal democratic state.
It was born in the 15th century, with the development of mercantile capitalism registered in Portugal, France, England and Spain. In the four nations, the Modern State appears from the second half of the 15th century and, later, it is observed its emergence also in Italy.
The Modern State arises from the crisis in Feudalism. In the feudal model, there were no centralized national states. The feudal lords are the ones who exercised political powers over their domains, without having to answer to an established central power.
Each fief had its own political autonomy. It could also be subject to a larger kingdom, as was the case with the Holy Roman Empire, the English sovereign and the Pope.
The power of feudal lords was shared with the government of the autonomous medieval towns, which were known as communes. These had the autonomy to regulate commerce, establish taxes, guarantee the freedom of citizens and control judicial processes.
To complete your research, read also :
- Feudalism
- Middle Ages
- Medieval Church
From the 14th and the first half of the 15th centuries, the crisis of the feudal system began to occur as a result of the social revolts of the peasants and the evolution of commerce in Europe.
The bourgeoisie begins to demand elements that guarantees the development of commerce such as a stable government, unified laws and taxes. The bourgeois also protested against the high taxes on goods and the diversity of currencies.
The Modern State is the result of a process of about three centuries to establish itself. His first phase is monarchical absolutism. Through the centralization of power in the monarchy, the national army, the unique legal structure and the systematization of tax collection begin to be developed.
The absolute monarchy also allows for the formation of the infrastructure that guarantees the public machine and creates the conditions for the emergence of the bureaucratic body.
Read Also :Absolutist State
Characteristics of the Modern State
- One power;
- One army;
- Sovereign authority of the king for the whole territory;
- Unified administration and justice;
- Creation of the bureaucratic system.
Modern State in Portugal
The first kingdom to use the Modern State model was Portugal. There, political centralization took place as a consequence of the military campaigns of the War of Reconquest.
The conflict, fought against the Muslims, also guaranteed Castile's independence in the twelfth century.
The Avis Revolution guaranteed the consolidation of the Modern State in Portugal in 1385. With the support of the bourgeoisie, D. João, the Master of Avis, defeated Dona Leonor Teles, who had the support of the Portuguese nobility and the kingdom of Castile.
D. João was crowned King of Portugal and this organization is among the decisive factors for European maritime expansion.
Modern State in Spain, France and England
In Spain, the formation of the Modern State took place as a consequence of the War of Reconquest and the union of the kingdoms of Aragon and Castile in 1469. The consolidation took place in 1492, with the expulsion of the Moors from the Kingdom of Granada.
In France, the victory over England in the Hundred Years' War (1337 - 1453) laid the foundations for the constitution of the Modern State. King Louis XIV would be the greatest example of a centralizing monarch.
As for England, it went through the process after the War of the Two Roses (1455 - 1485) that guaranteed the supremacy of the sovereign over feudal lords.
See also :
- Mercantilism
- Absolutism
- Questions about Absolutism
- Formation of National Monarchies