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