the hapsburgs, prussian and romanov empires. explain the development of absolutism in eastern...
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Absolutism in Eastern Europe
The Hapsburgs, Prussian and Romanov Empires
Focus Question
Explain the development of Absolutism in Eastern Europe. Which countries
become the most powerful and why?
Central and Eastern Europe
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 emerge1. Habsburg Austria 2. Prussia begins to merge with N.
Germany3. Imperial Russia – Romanov
Dynasty
Poland with no Central Authority
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 Sobieski at the Battle of Vienna
The Hapsburg Empire and the Pragmatic Sanction
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
Prussia under the Hohenzollern Family
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
Russia – The Romanov Dynasty (1613-1917)
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-WestFor Progress & ChangeEncourage New Ideas,
Technologies, etc.
Anti-WestIsolationistXenophobic
Ultra-Conservative
Most Tsars
Russian Orthodox Church
Military
Boyars
peasants
A few Tsars
Intellectual elites
Merchants/businessmen
Young members of the middle class.
REFORM-MINDEDLEADER
Peter the Great – Early Years
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
Peter the Great – Later Years
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
The Ottoman Government 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
The End of the Ottoman Empire
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