
Civil Wars and Political Breakdowns in Late Medieval Europe
Tides of History
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The Incoherence of Late Medieval Kingdoms
Isabella and Ferdinand inaugurated a series of deep and fundamental reforms that extended royal power in government. They made war on the Muslims of Granada, and found funding for a cocky Genoese adventurer named Christopher Columbus. This disorder wasn't as long lasting or as deep as the almost total breakdown in Castile during Enrique IV's reign. But it was still indicative of the spirit of the times in one major regard. It illustrates the basic incoherence of late medieval kingdoms.
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