Growth of Monarchies

1. 8 small kingdoms unite to become 1 United Kingdom

800s - King Alfred the Great - developed a strong monarchy

2.Norman Conquest --> redesigned and changed English monarchy

1066 Battles of Hastings [ENGLAND] Harold versus William [FRANCE]

puts strength of Anglo-Saxon monarchies to shame

3. Claim all of the land for the King of England > award land to loyal followers > delegate work

4. Organize land and taxed --> created the Domesday Book

5. Expand holdings in France via Norman Conquest and Eleanor of Aquitaine

6. Lose power -->

1215 - Magna Carta

1260 - Parliament

1. Only ruled a small area around Paris and Orleans

2. Fight English nobles by empowering the French monarchy

900s - Hugh Capet

3. Fought local nobles for power - made allegiances

1300s Capetians ruled much of modern France

1. After Charlemagne Germany split into small kingdoms led by dukes

2. 936 - Otto Duke of Saxony united Germany and conquered northern Italy

3. Received backing by the church by helping Pope John XII

Became the Holy Roman Empire

4. Emperors passed laws that were executed by the dukes

Elected position

Kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula needed to unite through Reconquista

Castile and Aragon united through King Ferdinand and Isabella

Portugal joined in reconquering the Iberian Peninsula, but did not unite as a unified Spain