Absolutism in Eastern Europe 1600 -1725

Three Declining Empires Eastern Europe in 1648 The HRE, the Republic of Poland and the Ottoman Empire occupied the area from the French border to Russia All three empires were declining. Each lacked a strong central authority and efficient system of government Each of the declining empires contained diverse ethnic and language groups “multi-national empires”

Eastern vs. Western Europe Eastern Europe powerful nobility weak middle class oppressed serfs no empires little trade

The holy roman empire and Austria

The Holy Roman Empire The reformation left the HRE religiously divided between Catholics and Protestants The Thirty Years’ War left the HRE politically divided into 300 independent states The empire had an elected emperor who had no imperial army, revenues or central authority Led by the Habsburgs and the Hohenzollerns, Austria and Prussia gradually emerged as leading German states.

Holy Roman Empire

Austria expands to the east Ottoman Turk expansion into Europe halted at siege of Vienna 1683. Austrian Hapsburg take advantage of Turk weakness to expand into Balkans (Hungary, Croatia, Transylvania) “multi-national” empire

Charles VI and the Pragmatic Sanction Charles VI (1711-1740) (Hapsburg Austria and HRE) had NO male heir To ensure secession for his daughter the Pragmatic Sanction was created. It stated that the territories of the Habsburg empire were indivisible and that Maria Theresa would inherit the land England and other foreign powers forced Charles to make a number of concessions before agreeing to the Pragmatic Sanction. Charles died believing he had guaranteed the peace and integrity of his realm. He spent almost his entire reign securing agreement but did not prepare Maria Theresa for the inevitability that a country would not live up to the agreement. He left her in debt, without an inadequate army and never trained her to be a monarch

Maria theresa assumes the austrian throne Coronation Prussian Invasion despite initial setback Maria Theresa reigns for forty years Successfully defends most of her realm Promoted commerce and agriculture, reorganized the military and increased Austria’s international standing

prussia

The Hohenzollerns of Brandenburg-Prussia The Rise of Prussia The Hohenzollerns of Brandenburg-Prussia Brandenburg was a small state centered in Berlin Holy Roman elector The Hohenzollerns became hereditary rulers in 1417 It owned other German territories. These diverse and geographically separated territories had no natural boundaries, few resources and a population of 1.5 million

Hohenzollern Castle Hohenzollern castle

Frederick William, The Great Elector 1640-1688 Although weak and scattered, the Hohenzollern territory was the second largest (after Austria) in the HRE Known as the great elector, Frederick began to forge the territories into a strong power. He wanted take part in the Balance of Power politics He demanded and received loyalty from the Junkers (German land owners). In exchange they gained total control over their serfs

The military became the center of Prussian life and culture. Frederick William I 1713-1740 Like the great elector, Frederick William I was determined to build a strong powerful army. The military doubled in size to 80,000, which made it the 3rd or 4th largest in Europe The military became the center of Prussian life and culture. “ Prussia is not a state that possesses an army, but an army that possesses a state”.

The Growth of Prussia

poland

Polish disappearing act On a map in 1660, Poland appears to be a large, unified country. In reality, the king of Poland was elected and had restricted powers. Poland did have a central diet (Sejm). However, action required the unanimous consent of each aristocratic member, any member could break up the diet at any time. This lack of central power created a power vacuum, leaving it vulnerable to stronger nations Between 1660 and 1795, Poland is partitioned (divided) between Austria, Russia and Prussia three times until it disappears from the map.

russia

Russia Before Peter the Great Isolation Russia was geographically isolated from the rest of Europe. Sweden prevented Russia from reaching the Baltic Sea while the Ottoman Empire prevented Russia from reaching the Black Sea Russia was culturally isolated from the rest of Europe. The ideas of the Renaissance and Reformation and all the discoveries of the Age of Exploration and scientific revolution scarcely affected Russia

Peter the Great 1682-1725 Modernizing Russia saw that Russia had fallen behind the West. learned from rivals, he visited Holland and England, where he toured shipyards, observed Western military and cultural customs. Returned to Russia with vision to grow it into a great power, he started with the army and navy. represses the streltsy (hereditary military caste) that had political influence Professional army of conscripts Built navy

Defeating Sweden The Thirty Years’ War left Sweden in control of the Baltic’s entire eastern shore. In 1700, Peter ordered his army to end Sweden's dominance of the Baltic. The Great Northern War between Sweden and Russia lasted from 1700- 1721 After suffering initial defeats from King Charles XII, Peter eventually won the war, thus gaining access to warm water routes on the Baltic This defeat contributed to Sweden's decline as a major European power, while Russia was stepping it up.

Russian empire

“ a great window for Russia to look at Europe” Built St. Petersburg Moscow “ a great window for Russia to look at Europe”

Other reforms NOT MODERN? continues to exploit serfs!!! improved agriculture with introduction of the potato liberated Russian women by allowing them to appear in public without veils. Boyars were the old nobility who supported traditional Russian culture in a famous and resented act he forced the boyars to shave their traditional long beards. forced them to build elaborate homes in St. Petersburg and serve in the army of civil administration Where did he get this idea? NOT MODERN? continues to exploit serfs!!!