Absolutism in Eastern Europe Overview of the HOP RAP the three aging Empires the HOP give way to the emerging empires the RAP. Absolutism in Eastern Europe

Holy Roman Empire Religious divisions because of the Reformation and the religious wars.

Ottoman Empire Unable to maintain possessions in Eastern Europe because of Austria and Russia Built on Expansion Sultan had absolute power After 1560 the decline leads to its gradual disintegration Suleiman the Magnificent Most powerful world ruler of the 16th c. Nearly conquered Austria, captured Belgrade, nearly ½ of eastern Europe belonged to him Tolerant of religion

Poland Liberum VETO By 1800 Poland ceased to exist and was carved up by Russia, Austria and Prussia

W. Absolutism v. E. Absolutism Limited nobility Strong Middle Class Near freedom from Oppression Powerful nobility Weak Middle Class Oppression of peasantry (serfs)

Serfdom in E. Europe from 1300 Revival of serfdom to battle bad economy after 1300 (Black death was hard on nobility) Kings and princes issued laws restricting peasants movements Confiscation of peasant lands Monopolized legal system Robot: non-serf peasants were required to work 3-4 days without pay per week

Serfdom 1500-1650 Herediatry serfdom reinstated by Poland, Russian and Prussia 1574: Poland nobles have complete control over peasants 1694: tsar rescinded 9 year limit on runaway serfs Growth of estate agriculture in Poland and e. Germany Food prices increase Surpluses were sold to foreign merchants to feed west.

Why in East and not West? In the west the Black Death helped labor Political reasons were more plausible Nobles had more power (needed by monarchy) Constant warfare Eastern kings couldn’t control landlord policies Peasants were weaker politically Landlords undermined medieval privileges of towns and urban classes

The Habsburgs & the Holy Roman Empire

H: Holy Roman Empire rise of Austria Ruler of Austria was usually selected as HR Emperor War of Spanish Succession and Treaty of Utrecht caused the concentration of Hapsburgs in Austria Includes: Naples, Sardinia, Milan, Belgium (Utrecht), Hungary and Transylvania= Got the last two out of battles with Ottomans.

Austrian Empire: 1657-1718

Ineffective rule of HRE causes them to focus inward and eastward to consolidate. Reorganized Bohemia = Absolutism Centralized Austria Proper Serfdom intensifies. Austria is NOT a national state; very multinational No single constitution or administration each region has a different legal relationship to Emperor.

Habsburg Family Crest

Important Hapsburgs. Ferdinand II (1619-1637) Took control of Bohemia during 30 years war. Ferdinand III (1637-1657) Centralized government in old provinces of Austria proper.

Leopold I 1658-1705 Restricted Protestant worship. Siege of Vienna Successfully repelled Turks at gates of Vienna in 1683

Schönbrunn Palace

Schönbrunn Palace

Schönbrunn Palace

Charles VI: 1711-1740 PRAGMATIC SANCTION Maria Theresa inherits his empire

Holy Roman Empire: 1750

The Hohenzollerns & Brandenburg-Prussia

Prussia & the Austrian Empire: 1721-72

P: Prussia the HOHENZOLLERNS Began as just Brandenburg and was one of the 7 electors. By 17th c. not really involved with HRE Marriages give more control in Germany Princes had little power over the nobility.

Prussian Family Crest

FREDERICK WILLIAM: the Great Elector Strict Calvinist but tolerant Admired Swedish system of gov’t and economy Louis wars and struggle for Baltic cause constant crisis Invaded by Tartars 1656-57 Weakens noble estates and increase demands for more money and larger army Refuse to join reps of towns to resist absolute power.

The Great Elector Oversaw militarism and created most significant army in Europe Uses Militarism and taxes to unify Increase military spending through heavy taxes Junkers Dominated Brandenburg and Prussia Subjugation of serfs to compensate for loyalty Encourages industry and trade

King Frederick I aka. Frederick III of Brandenburg 1st “King of Prussia” The Ostentatious Most popular Wanted to imitate Louis XIV Encouraged Education Fought 2 wars with Louis

Frederick William I “The Soldiers King” Most important involving Absolutism Created Militarism “Sparta of the North” Most efficient Bureaucracy Junkers remained officers for loyalty Established 1,000 schools

Frederick II: “The Great” 1740-1786 “Enlightened Despots” Most powerful and famous Increased territory at expense of Austria

RISE OF RUSSIA

Rise of Moscow Ivan I Ivan the Great Cooperated with Mongols Awarded title Great Prince Ivan the Great 1462-1505 United principalities First ruler of the independent state.

The First Czar Ivan IV Became king of Russia in 1533. He was 3 years old. His mother along with some boyars ruled for him until 1544. Struggled for power with nobles (boyars)

Rule by TERROR Ivan turns against boyars in 1560. He thought they had poisoned his wife (Anastasia). He kills them and takes their lands. Beats his pregnant daughter-in-law and then kills his own son. Kind of went crazy.

“Time of Troubles” Followed the Terrible’s death Ivan’s heir is weak. He was physically and mentally unable to rule Russia. He dies without an heir. Period of famine, power struggles and war Cossack bands Sweden and Poland conquered Moscow Elect

Rise of the Romanovs The boyars fight over who will be king. Elect Ivan’s wife Anastasia’s grandnephew. Lasts from 1613 to 1917 and the Russian Revolution. Michael Romanov comes to power in 1613. The Romanov’s strengthened the government They also restored order to Russia.

Peter the Great Becomes czar in 1696. Begins to reform Russia. Traveled to Europe to get ideas on how to westernize or modernize Russia.

Russia Is cut off geographically from Europe. Culturally isolated and different from the rest of Europe. Different religions. They were slavic and had different traditions than the rest of Europe. They grew beards and wore more drab clothing.

Reforms and Westernization Brings Orthodox Church under state control Reduces power of great landowners Modernizes army by having European officers train soldiers. Brings other Europeans engineers, scientists. Introduces potatoes Starts first newspaper Raises women’s status Adopts Western Fashion Advances Education Table of Ranks

St. Petersburg Peter wants a seaport to make western travel easier. Great Northern War 1703 begins the building of the city. Took a long time and many die of disease.