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New Monarchs were the rulers of European nations during the 15th century who unified their nations, creating a stable and centralized government. It was the centralized governments created under the New Monarchs in the 15th century that allowed for an era of colonization and conquest in the 16th century, and paved the way for rapid economic growth in Europe.The best examples of New Monarchs are:
- Henry VII of England - Ended the War of the Roses, brought England from bankruptcy to prosperity, built up the Royal Navy, and unified England politically by eliminating potential competitors to the throne, pacifying Yorkist resistance by marrying Elizabeth of York, and checking the power of the nobility
- Louis XI of France - United France, reorganized the French economy, and weakened the power of the French nobility
- Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, joint rulers of modern-day Spain - Unified Spain religiously by expelling the JewThe word Jew is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to either a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or a member of the Jewish culture or ethnicity. This article discusses the term as describing an ethnic group; for as and the MoorsMoors is used in this article to describe the medieval Muslim inhabitants of al-Andalus and the Maghreb, whose culture is often called "Moorish". For other meanings look at Moors (Meaning) or Blackamoors. The name derives from the ancient Berber tribe of, brought their nations together under a single political dynasty, weakened the power of the Spanish nobility, and conquered Granada, the last remaining MuslimA Muslim is a believer in or follower of Islam. The word Muslim means one who submits and implies complete submission to the will of God ( Allah). Muslims believe that nature is itself Islamic, since it follows natural laws placed by God. Thus, a Muslim s Iberian kingdom
Achievements of the New Monarchs:
- Limiting the power of the feudal aristocracyAristocracy is a form of government in which rulership is in the hands of an "upper class" known as aristocrats . The Greek origins of the word aristocracy imply the meaning of "rule by the best". This inevitably means those with the power to hold wealth,
- Creating efficient, centralized systems of taxA tax is an involuntary fee paid by individuals or businesses to a government. Taxes may be paid in cash or kind (although payments in kind may not always be allowed or classified as taxes in all systems). The means of taxation, and the uses to which theation
- Maintaining a standing armyAn army comprises all of a nation's land-based military forces or a specific large military force. Military land forces An army is a military organization. The word army can refer to any armed force, or more specifically a force primarily designed for lan loyal to the monarch
- Encouraging some sense of national identity (but by no means nationalism)
- Fostering trade, both internally and externally
- Enforcing religious unity within their countries
While Peter I of Russia ruled two centuries after the New Monarchs, he is sometimes considered the New Monarch of Russia, accomplishing much for his country similar to what the New Monarchs did for theirs.
After the New Monarchs, the Absolutist Monarchs gained sway, to be followed by the Enlightened despots.
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