Three Aging Empires Section 5.23 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 Empires HRE, Poland, Ottoman Turks Similarities 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 Empire 1714

The Holy Roman Empire after 1648 War 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

The Holy Roman Empire after 1648 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

Poland

Blocked both absolutism & parliamentarianism Poland 1650 Republic 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 Poland 1650 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

Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire 1650 Militarily Dated Was once a power Janissaries Ethnically/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

The Ottoman Empire 1650 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

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