Section 5.23

Three Aging Empires

Chapter 5: The Transformation of Eastern Europe, 1648-1740

Questions to Consider• What major differences may be noted between

eastern and western Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries?

• Why may the HRE, the Republic of Poland and the Ottoman Empire in the mid 17th century be characterized as “old-fashioned” political institutions?

• Describe the changes in the HRE brought about by (a) the Reformation, (b) the 30 Years’ War, © the Peace of Westphalia.

• What was distinctive about the political life of the Poland in the 17th century?

• How would you categorize the nature of Ottoman rule in eastern Europe? What changes were taking place in the 17th century?

Introduction

• 1648 Modernity v. Tradition

• HRE, Poland, and the Ottoman Turks=Tradition

• Prussia, Austria, and Russia are rising to new heights

– Eventually they will expand to absorb territory on their perimeters

Rough line divided east and west• Less urban• Labor less productive• Bourgeoisie less influential• Peasants becoming serfs (robot)

–Commercial revolution in the west changed the working class into a mobile free populace

• Result is a powerful landholding class in Prussia, Austria and Russia

Three Aging EmpiresHRE, Poland, Ottoman TurksSimilarities

• Loose, ranging, and undefined borders

• Central authority weak & relied on various dignitaries

• Inefficient government administrations

• Diverse ethnic or language groups

• Lack of centralization

Holy Roman Empire1714

The Holy Roman Empire after 1648War• Devastated by the Reformation and 30

Years War• Thirty Years War drained capital and

reduced commercial connections • Arts and letters drifted to low ebb

– Leibniz and Bach were among the few noteworthy minds

• Motley Crew of States– Multitude of laws, tariffs, tolls,

coinage, and calendar slowed economic development

• Hundreds of independent states capable of action and intent on preserving Germanic liberties– capitulations

• No central authority allowed to impede the imperial diet Absolutism was developed in the small states and cities – Miniature league of nations

protected large and small states alike

• Marriage and inheritance was an avenue to accumulated power

Lacks army, revenue, and working government

The Holy Roman Empire after 1648

Poland

Poland 1650Republic

– Technically a republic b/c king was elected

• Really feudal • Diverse population

Szlachta’s Power • Landed aristocracy • Blocked both absolutism &

parliamentarianism• Elected king had to accept

capitulations • “exploding” • Liberum veto (free veto) Szlachta

• King had no army, no courts, and no income

• Nobility paid no taxes, held armies and conducted foreign affairs independently – Serfs fell into virtual bondage

• Power vacuum was perceived by surrounding political powers

• 1660 East Prussian fief became independent– Fatal characteristic of Poland

will haunt her throughout history

Poland 1650

Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire 1650Militarily Dated• Was once a power• JanissariesEthnically/Religiously

Diverse• Little focus on

assimilating subjected people

• Only Muslims subject to Koranic Law

• Policy of religious tolerance

• Religious leaders mediated between the Ottomans and non-Muslims

• Economic motive for toleration

• External interests gained privileges within the empire – Trade protections were

given to French traders since 1535

• Equitable legal systems• Outlying governors had near

free had over their areas of control

• By 1663 trouble for Europe is fermenting in Hungary

The Ottoman Empire 1650

Map Activity

• On the outline maps of Europe indicate (a) in the upper panel the approximate boundaries about 1660 of the HRE, the Republic of Poland, and the Ottoman Empire; (b) in the lower panel the boundaries of the three “new” states---Austria, Prussia, and Russia---as they had developed by 1795

• Show the boundary of east and west (agrarian zone)• Label the Danube, Elbe, Oder, Vistula, Po, Volga rivers• Label the Adriatic, Black, North, Baltic, and

Mediterranean Seas• Label Trieste• Use pages 212, 216 and 222 of 8th edition