The Hapsburgs, Prussian and Romanov Empires

Explain the development of Absolutism in Eastern Europe. Which countries become the most powerful and why?

 Economically less advanced than western Europe Agrarian economy No overseas empires Little to no overseas trade  exception of grain Politically unstable region due to continual conflict Three Absolutist powers emerge 1.Habsburg Austria 2.Prussia begins to merge with N. Germany 3.Imperial Russia – Romanov Dynasty

 most Polish monarchs were foreigners and tools for foreign powers  Sejm or diet - a central legislative body no real power any single veto, liberum veto, could stop a Sejm  (exploding the diet)  Result = Poland disappears from map in 18th century John III SobieskiJohn III Sobieski at the Battle of Vienna Battle of Vienna

 Hapsburgs maintained the title of Holy Roman Emperor, but it no longer held the same power.  territories were geographically & culturally diverse = no real central government  empire increases under Leopold I, Joseph I, and Charles VI Pragmatic Sanction – Charles VI legal basis for a single line of inheritance within the Hapsburg dynasty putting his daughter Maria Theresa in charge  Frederick of Prussia invades Hapsburg Empire and puts Maria at risk in 1740

 Frederick William, the Great Elector raised taxes to build an army Junkers could enforce serfdom army and Elector become powerful allies  Frederick William’s successors William I, helps Hapsburgs in War of Spanish Succession, becomes King of Prussia  Frederick William I – most successful Prussian leader  symbol of power and unity, while staying out of war Frederick II or Great –  invaded Silesia starting long Austrian- Prussian rivalry

c The Romanov dynasty is established with Michael Romanov 17. c The only Russian royal family  lasted for 304 years!  Brought stability to Russia Romanov Family Crest

DEMAGOGUE The Pendulum of Russian History Pro-West For Progress & Change Encourage New Ideas, Technologies, etc. Anti-West Isolationist Xenophobic Ultra-Conservative  Most Tsars  Russian Orthodox Church  Military  Boyars  peasants  A few Tsars  Intellectual elites  Merchants/businessmen  Young members of the middle class. REFORM-MINDED LEADER

 Increased the size of the military and improved navy  The Great Northern War – defeats the Swedes and takes control of Estonia, Lithuania, parts of Finland  St. Petersburg –built in honor of himself with places forcibly built by the boyars that resembled small versions of Versailles Window to the west

 Bought the nobility and Russian Orthodox Church more closely under Tsar’s rule.  Table of Ranks – service to country became more important than lineage Meritocracy based system  abolishes the patriarch and puts in its place the Holy Synod Brings power of the church under the Emperor  1725 – Peter dies and leaves no successor as Russia becomes unstable

 Dominant political power in Muslim World after 1516  More religious tolerant than Europe  sultans governed their empire through millets officially recognized religious communities  religious discrimination = Dhimmis  devshirme – Christian boys recruited and raised as Muslims and put into the military as infantry troops known as Janissaries basically well treated slaves

 Unsuccessfully attempt to expand their empire into Europe.  the power of the main political figure the vizier grows and splits up the empire  Europe passes the Ottomans in learning, science, and military prowess = stronger European armies  Ottomans suffer military loses to the united European states and Russia losing land and revenue  Europe sees the Ottoman Empire as one in decline and Islam as an inferior religion