Major European Borders in 1512
History Behind the Major Border Changes
Muscovy Expansion in Eastern Europe
Centered on the city of Moscow, Muscovy was a Rus’ principality during the late medieval period, and was the predecessor of modern-day Russia. After the invasion by the Mongols in 1223, Muscovy became a tributary to the Golden Horde until the year 1480. It was in that year Muscovy was able to regain its independence (largely due to its first Tsar, Ivan III). Not settling for simple independence however, Ivan III aimed at expansion of the Muscovite state through invasion and conquering of territory. One such major territorial acquisition by the Muscovites was in the campaign against Poland-Lithuania, in which large portions of territory in east Poland-Lithuania were captured by Muscovy. By the year 1503, Ivan III had tripled Muscovy’s the territory.
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This rapid expansion was so significant that Muscovy was considered the successor state to the Roman Empire at the time. This did not prove enough for the Muscovites however, as by the year 1512 the state had captured all of Smolensk from the Poland-Lithuanians, which pushed Muscovy’s borders even further west, ending at the Dniepr River (located in Modern-day Ukraine).
The Growth of Castile (Spain) in Western Europe
In the year 1469, the leading monarchies of the Kingdoms of Castile and Aragon were unified by the marriage of Isabella I and Ferdinand II. This marriage proved to be the first stepping stone towards what would later become the Spanish Empire in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was in the period between 1478 and 1492 which saw this ‘early Spain’ acquire major pieces of foreign land such as the Canary Islands and the Emirate of Granada. This was only the beginning however, as in the preceding decades the Castile-Aragon union would focus its sights on conquering nearly the entire Mediterranean, including much of modern day Italy.
Expansion of the Ottoman Empire in the East
It was in the 15th and 16th centuries that the Ottoman Empire ramped up in terms of territorial expansion in Europe. The empire was notably prosperous for the committed and focused rule of a line of early Sultans. One such Sultan was Selim I, who was responsible for dramatically expanding the Ottoman Empire’s eastern and southern frontiers in Europe. This expansion was primarily due to conquering of the Safavid dynasty (Persia) in 1507, as well as an establishment of rule in Egypt.
It was the intense Albanian resistance to the ideals of the Ottoman Empire which proved to be a major obstacle for the Ottomans however. This resistance proved too great in the Ottoman’s hopeful expansion towards Western Europe, and was the leading factor as to why expansion was not able to reach the Italian peninsula. Although the Ottoman Empire had grown to become one of the world’s largest imperial powers in the 16th century, major expansion had nearly stopped by 1512.
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Major National Figures
Ivan III, Tsar of Muscovy
By the end of his reign, Ivan III had tripled the territory of Muscovy, and ended the dominance of the Golden Horde over his territory. Ivan III is also well know for renovating Moscow's Kremlin, and laying the foundations for what later became called the Russian state. He was one of the longest-reigning Russian rulers of all time.
Isabella I of Castile, and Ferdinand II of Aragon
It was the marriage of Isabella I and Ferdinand II that united the previously independent states of Aragon and Castile. This unification laid the base for the Spanish Empire. Even though each of Castile and Aragon remained a separate country shortly after the union, they were nearly identical in aspects of society, politics, law, currency and language.
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Selim I, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire
Selim I, nicknamed 'Selim the Grim' was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from the period between 1512 to 1520.[His reign is most notable for the massive expansion of the Ottoman Empire, particularly in his conquests lasting between the years 1516 and 1517.