Question

Summarize the four ways in which the power of the Nobility and the power of the Church were reduced.

Answer 1

The power of the Nobility and the power of the Church were reduced through centralization of royal power, the rise of the merchant class, papal authority over church officials, and the changing economic landscape.

Step-by-step explanation:

The power of the Nobility and the power of the Church were reduced in several ways:

1. Centralization of Royal Power: Monarchs like those in France and the Two Sicilies developed strong royal bureaucracies to keep the nobility in check and reduce their power.
2. Rise of the Merchant Class: The death of many members of the clergy during the Black Death made monarchs more dependent on the merchant class. This, coupled with the growing centralization of power, gradually eroded the traditional privileges and prerogatives of the nobility.
3. Papal Authority: The Catholic Church cemented its power in the 11th century with the investiture controversy. The popes gained power over appointing church officials, reducing the power of leaders of powerful countries over the Church.
4. Changing Economic Landscape: The shift from land to commerce and industry as major sources of wealth threatened the traditional power of the nobility. By the middle of the 19th century, industry and commerce had eclipsed land ownership as sources of wealth, weakening the nobility.