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Evolution of European States in the Middle Ages (Part 1)

Explore the great intermediary period in Europe, feudalism, and the emergence of representative government in England and Spain. Discover the fall of the Roman Empire and the split of the Mediterranean Sea. Learn about the impact of fiscal issues, the decline of cities, and the rise of the Normans. Gain insights into public finances, decentralization, and the feudal system.

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Evolution of European States in the Middle Ages (Part 1)

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  1. Europe in the Middle Age (Part one)Ec 565February 11, 2019 Great intermediary period Feudalism Grand view about the evolution of states in Europe Competing and growing monopolies Framework for case studies on the emergence of the state and of representation in England and Spain France Germany and Italy

  2. Great intermediary period • Grand view about the evolution of states in Europe • Competing and growing monopolies • Feudalism • New representative form of government • Technical part: seignorage with coins

  3. Fall of the Roman empire (optional) • Empire divided in 2 (sometimes 4) around 300 (Diocletian): the East and the West. • Also linguistic division: latin and greek. • Gradual settlements (and occasional invasion) of the “barbarians”. • Mostly search for settlement in the empire (today: immigration). • Fall of the Western part of the Roman empire around 450. • exact date does not matter, some would put it at end of 4th century, people were aware of the change of times (Augustine and the City of God, around 420). • Eastern part continued until 1453. • Causes of final fall • Many, including (perhaps important) climatic • Consequence: decline of cities • Rural states

  4. Split of the Mediterranean sea (optional) • Other arguments (Ehrenkreuz, 1972, McCormick, 2001) • The Dark Ages were not so dark. Technological progress: ex: many many water mills. • The Muslims encouraged trade (understood that there are mutual gains from trade). • Climate changes ??? • Revival of trade before the year 1000. • In any case, split between the Christian and the Muslim world • Fiscal issues in the Muslim world are very interesting. • The Western Christian world had to be build on the continent. For the first time, perhaps, a non hydraulic civilization, with very costly travel.

  5. Ship wrecks in the Mediterranean sea

  6. Long interval in the West (450-1000) • End of travel and communication in the Mediterranean sea. • Travel by land is 30 times more expensive • Empire of Charlemagne, more an exception (not stable)

  7. Interval (II) (optional) • Invasion of “Normans” beginning around 900 • Main settlements: • Normandy • Sicily • Normandy • Well organized • Best tax base until 18th century • Platform to launch the invasion of England (1066)

  8. Review of overall expenditures: • Change of technology used in armies: • Roman • Infantry • MA: • 1. cavalry • 2. long bow • 3. infantry

  9. Public finances (non optional, questions to think about) • Very limited resources of the state • Ancient landlord customs • Very small surplus • Difficult communications • No hydraulic basin civilization, or natural borders • Limited trade (easier to tax) • Smaller use of money • Elite (scribes) is now in the Church • Main use of public finance “defense” • Feudalism brings one solution to the problems of information and enforcement under limited resources.

  10. Decentralization (to think about) • No overall state of legal structure • No central collection of information • Structure is decentralized • Hierarchy is a pyramid where each member of a layer controls only a few subordinates in the lower layer. • In the rural setting where all the production is agricultural, the pyramid is tied to the rights and titles of ownerships over the land • To prevent “tax competition” between districts (fiefdoms), the labor force is fixed to the land (serfdom).

  11. Enforcement • When there is a need (always an emergency), an individual in the pyramid can call on his lower layers. • Each vassal prepared to respond, and is responsible for his weapons and layers below him. • Feudal due: “scutage”: 40 days of service per year • No central administration to enforce the (implicit) contract • Hence, enforcement through a strong code of honor • Harsh punishment for defaults (loss of title and territory) • Comparison in 20th century: ??

  12. Feudal system more effective for defense than offence. • Conflicts because of • Merger and acquisitions through marriages (Eleanor of Aquitaine (12th century) fuel for the conflict between England and France, for centuries after) • Hostile takeover: William the Conqueror (1066) • King is a lord above the others, but limited power. • Revenues for regular expenditures (not emergency) should comefrom his own domain. • Taxation within the domain like any landlord, but no money taxation of the vassals. • Emergency met with feudal duties • Emergency has to be proven: doctrine of evident necessity, supported by the Church: reinforcement of the defensive orientation of the system.

  13. Grand scheme of the evolution of the states in Europe • Norbert Elias (1897-1990) • “The civilizing process • Competition in Europe for monopolies • The greater one competitor becomes, the more resources (public finances) than other competitors and higher probability of winning contests • Centrifugal forces resist the formation of monopolies • Importance of the geographical setting • In particular THE RIGHT SIZE AT THE BEGINNING • Not too small, not too large, • Perfect size: England • Spain • France • Germany • Italy

  14. England and Magna Carta • Hostile takeover by the Normans under William the Conqueror in 1066. • Barons like a corporate board. • As in a corporate takeover, first action is • Inventory: Doomsday Book. • From the beginning, some control by a centralized government • Right size of the state • 1215 Magna Carta • Agreement between the king and the barons • (including the city of London, but not other cities)

  15. “Spain”

  16. France ˜ 1000 Elias, p. 337

  17. “Germany” 1648 950-1360

  18. Italy around 1500

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