The end of the Middle Ages marked the beginning of the end of the majority of dominance and influence on European ruling for the noble classes and the Roman Catholic Church. The power previously held by the two upper groups decreased as their support and authority declined. The centralization of European states such as France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia also contributed to the decline of the two former powers, and to the rise of stable monarchies. These monarchies were able to gain full control over the regions they ruled through different successful techniques, such as eliminating the power of the nobles and opposing sides within their borders, instituting and improving armies and bureaucracies, and switching loyal supporters of their…