T(ea) for Textbook

 

Europe isn't exactly known for their unity, something England alone could take at LEAST 50% of the blame for. I promise you the UN and European Union would be a lot more agreeable if they shared a cup of tea instead of bombs with their Arab neighbors. But hey, Europe did share some pretty good thoughts, and their inventions can still be seen today.

Looking back at the Middle Ages, it’s pretty clear that the d/dx—that means derivative for you non-math nerds— of our current society came from the same era that the Pope reused the same losing battle plan about 10 times and still questioned why he didn’t regain Jerusalem. Through the twelfth and thirteenth century, humanity saw the beginnings of what’s now known as the Justice System and representative assemblies. The keystone for these advancements, however, was a strong monarchy, and during the Hundred Years’ War, we see the origins for England’s less-than-desirable leadership that somehow scraped them a win. With the return of noble power, there was no chance for the monarchies to finish centralizing their power.  

They Probably Ate Beans and Cheese

 

This all changed when 15th century rulers—of Italy, England, France, and Spain— utilized aggressive tactics to rebuild their governments through reducing violence—something that clearly didn’t last to the 21st century— taming unruly nobles, and establishing a domestic order. Coming off an age of surviving battles, it was also vital to secure borders and increase wealth. Because of this, monarchs of western Europe began to emphasize their status as 'royal majesty' and insisted on the respect and loyalty of all subjects, including the nobility. During this time, Henry VII decided to ‘girlboss’ and stray from the norm and further develop the Parliament and had them confirm laws, the first and still one of the only countries to have a non-royal directly affecting their monarchy. During a meeting with his royal council, Henry revealed his deep distrust of the nobility and mostly appointed smaller, law-trained landowners as advisors, who mainly dealt with foreign affairs and negotiations.  

 

Inspired by this Excerpt from A History of Western Society