Absolutism in Central and Eastern Europe 1648-1740.
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Transcript of Absolutism in Central and Eastern Europe 1648-1740.
Absolutism in Central and Eastern
Europe1648-1740
The Elbe River-Division betweenEastern and WesternEurope?
Austria
Background Hopes for an effective Hapsburg Empire in
Germany collapsed after 1648 Connection with Spain lost value as Spain
declined as a continental power Austria now needed to forge is own destiny
Nothing held these regions together other than the Austrian Hapsburg Dynasty
During the Thirty Years’ War, Hapsburgs rooted out Protestantism, feudalism, and re-Catholicized Bohemia
The Turkish Threat Turkish armies began to move up the
Danube in 1663 Christian Europe assembled an army and
forced the Turks to accept a 20 year truce Turks renewed their assault in 1683 and
besieged Vienna
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Turks abandoned the siege after two months when relief forces arrived
Austrian counteroffensive developed to drive the Turks from the region
Turks were also driven out of Hungary and it was annexed to Austria
Challenges to Unity Each country within the empire retained its
own law, language, political life, etc. This made it impossible to establish laws
and institutions that would be accepted in all territories
Pragmatic Sanction of 1713 said Hapsburg territories were indivisible and recognized only one line of heirs
Prussia
“Prussia is not a state with an army, but an army with a state”
Mirabeau
Prussia in 1648
Background Few natural resources or barriers Came to dominate its region of Europe Became known for its “militarism” by 18th c. Played an important role in later German
unification
Frederick William Succeeded to the throne in 1640 Realized Prussian survival would depend
on a strong military With a military presence, Prussia might be
able to be a player in the “balance of power” in Europe
The Prussian Military State Given its limitations, Prussia had to marshal
all its resources and manpower to create an effective fighting force
All taxes levied were absorbed by the army Military skills and tactics were adopted from
Western Europe
Entire landed aristocracy (Junkers) were recruited into military service
In exchange, the nobility would receive high military rank and absolute control over their peasants
Serfdom therefore expanded in Prussia
Sale of noble lands to non-nobles was prohibited by law
Prussian middle class deferred to nobles and was not independent
Frederick William I King of Prussia (1713-1740) Distained any semblance of “culture” since
it detracted from the military Gov’t money that was not spent on the
military was a “waste” Cut expenses of royal household by 3/4
Frederick William I Prussian Coat of Arms
Always appeared in uniform Army went from 40,000 to 83,000 by the
time of his death 20K of the 100K population of Berlin were
soldiers Fought practically no wars and therefore
left a huge war chest to his successors
Frederick II (“the Great”) Became king in 1740 Death of Charles VI caused Frederick to
take advantage and invade Silesia Annexation of Silesia doubled Prussia’s
population and provided new industries Prussia was now a great power with a
population of 6 million and an army of 200K
Russia
Duchy of Muscovy (княжество Московское)
Roots of Russian Absolutism First Czar, Ivan the
Terrible, died in 1584 During the “Time of
Troubles” (1604-1613) nobles elected czars who promised to respect nobles’ privileges
Nat’l Assembly elected boy czar Michael Romanov in 1613
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Crest of Romanov Dynasty
Roots of Russian Absolutism Romanovs soon began to eliminate
representative institutions and establish themselves as absolutists
Peasant revolt led by Stephen Razin in 1671 resulted in repression of the peasantry
By 1675, Russian serfs were no longer “bound to the soil” like they were in Prussia, Poland, Bohemia
Peter the Great Became czar in 1682 Spent time as a young
man in Holland and England
Became determined to introduce Western technology and governmental organization to Russia
Sought a warm water port
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Peter the Great Unsuccessful campaigns against the Ottomans in
Black Sea region caused him to look north Sweden was the main obstacle to Russian
expansion there After initial setbacks, Swedes were defeated at
Poltava in 1709 Great Northern War ended in 1721 and earned
Russia St. Petersburg