The Transformation of Eastern Europe (1648-1740)
Some of the back-story... A brief chronology... 1050 – 1300 = economic expansion 1300 – 1500 = econ. pop. , serfdom 1500 – 1650 = rise of estate culture…
East-West Comparison Economy… Living Patterns… Political Authority… Global Influence… Infrastructure… Culturally… Religion…
One Ageing Empire – The Holy Roman Empire Neither Holy, Roman, nor an Empire… Spanish Habsburgs on the decline…Austrian Hapsburgs on their own… No infrastructure / institutions representative of a contemporary government…
A Second Ageing Empire – The Republic of Poland The beginning of the end – The Deluge… The Last Hurrah?... the Reign of Jan Sobieski… Infrastructure aids in collapse of “The Commonwealth”…
A Third Ageing Empire – The Ottoman Empire Janissaries enable empire to grow… Millets allow empire to remain “peaceful”… Disinterest in politics leads empire disintegrate…
One “Newborn” Empire – The Austrian Monarchy Leopold I - (1658-1705)… Joseph I - (1705-1711)… Charles VI - (1711-1740)… Maria Theresa - (1740-1780)…
A Second “Newborn” Empire – Prussia Frederick William – “The Great Elector” (1640-1688)… Frederick I – (1688-1713)… Frederick William I – (1713 -1740)… Frederick II - “The Great” (1740 – 1786)…
A Third “Newborn” Empire – Russia Alexei I - (1654-1676)… Feodor III – (1676-1682)… Peter the Great – (1682-1725)…
The End