Post on 28-Mar-2015
Eastern Absolutism
Thinking Skill: Explicitly assess information and draw conclusions
Objective: Understand various forms of absolute monarchy throughout Eastern Europe
Prussia Leaders: Hohenzollern Family
Frederick William I r. 1713-1740The Soldier’s King
Militarized the Prussian states Created Absolutism
– Created tremendous bureaucracy to execute demands – Junkers (landowning nobility) incorporated into army leadership…led to an Officer Caste– Turns Prussia into “Sparta of the North”
Large, well-trained army (38,000 → 83,000) Prussian society becomes disciplined and obedient Lays the foundation for future German militarization Demanded unquestioning obedience Basically: Policies of F.W. I + Peasant Bondage + Junker Tyranny =
most militaristic country of modern time.
Frederick the Great (r. 1740-1786)Frederick the Great (r. 1740-1786)
Frederick the Great (r. 1740-1786)Frederick the Great (r. 1740-1786)
Frederick the Great’s CourtFrederick the Great’s Court
Europe in 1740Europe in 1740
Austrian Empire: 1657-1718
MariaTheresa
(r. 1740-1780)
MariaTheresa
(r. 1740-1780)
Maria Theresa & Her FamilyMaria Theresa & Her Family
Her Notable Children:
HRE Joseph II
HRE Leopold II
Queen Marie Antoinette (Fr.)
Her Notable Children:
HRE Joseph II
HRE Leopold II
Queen Marie Antoinette (Fr.)
Austrian Empire-Multiple Ethnicities cause problems
Austria, Vienna (German) Bohemia, Prague (Czech) Hungary, Budapest (Hungarian)
Pragmatic Sanction of 1713, was an edict issued by Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI to ensure that the throne of the Archduchy of Austria could be inherited by a daughter.
War of the Austrian Succession 1740-1748
War of the Austrian Succession 1740-1748
Hapsburg Empire
Prussia & the Austrian Empire: 1721-72
Holy Roman Empire: 1750
Russia Today
Former Soviet Region Compared in Latitude &
Area with the United States
Russia’s Time Zones
Topography of Russia
Siberia “Permafrost”
Average temperatures of January vary from 0 to -50°C, and in July from 1 to 25°C
150,000,000 population. A former “gulag”
Soviet prison camp.
Early Russia
Early Byzantine Influences:
Orthodox Christianity
Early Byzantine Influences:
Cyrillic Alphabet
Themes in Russian History
Expansion by conquest.
Need for warm-water ports.
The necessity of a strong, central government.
Russian Expansion
The Mongols Invade Russia
Ivan the Great (r. 1462-1505)
Ivan III Tearing the Great Khan’s Letter Requesting More Tribute in 1480.
Russia Ivan III r. 1462-1505
Established concept of tsar Overthrew Mongol yoke Promoted the “Third Rome”
Russia in the Late 1500s
Ivan the Terrible (IV) r. 1533-1584
Serfdom Secret police Ivan managed countless changes in the progression
from a medieval state to an empire and emerging regional
power, and became the first ruler to be crowned as
Tsar of All Russia. Historic sources present disparaging accounts of Ivan's
complex personality: he was described as intelligent and devout,
yet given to rages and prone to episodic outbreaks of mental illness. His contemporaries called him "Ivan Groznyi" the name, which,
although usually translated as "Terrible", actually means something
closer to "Redoubtable" or "Severe" and carries connotations of might,
power and strictness rather than horror or cruelty
The Romanov Dynasty(1613-1917)
Romanov Family Crest
1598-1613: Known as the Time of Troubles…….and then….
The Pendulum of Russian History
Pro-WestFor Progress & ChangeEncourage New Ideas,
Technologies, etc.
Anti-WestIsolationistXenophobic
Ultra-Conservative
Most Tsars Russian Orthodox
Church Military peasants
A few Tsars Intellectual elites Merchants/
businessmen Young members of the
middle class.
REFORM-MINDEDLEADER
DEMAGOGUE
Peter the Great r. 1682-1725 Wanted to expand Russia and build a strong military Encouraged Western ideas and technology –how specifically? Waged war for 35 out of 36 years during his reign “Tsar Peter was tall and thin, rather than stout. His hair was thick, short, and dark brown; he had
large eyes, black with long lashes, a well-shaped mouth, but the lower lip was slightly disfigured ... For his great height, his feet seemed very narrow. His head was sometimes tugged to the right by convulsions”
Personal Information 6’7” Red Hair? Into Dentistry Very bad temper Travelled in disguise micromanager Often Brutal and violent Epileptic? Tourettes? Rebels were tortured before they were executed Bigtime collector of “Midgets”
http://books.google.com/books?id=DNwRAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA299&lpg=PA299&dq=peter+the+great+%2B+midgets+and+giants&source=bl&ots=FZL5V772QG&sig=KF1Hp7ppwr2GJncbXcPv9dpnDeM&hl=en#v=onepage&q=peter%20the%20great%20%2B%20midgets%20and%20giants&f=false
Plots against him all the time Drinking club to mock the church Other___________?
More info Peter I of Russia came to the throne in 1682. Known as Peterthe Great, he was a brilliant but highly controversial ruler. He madeRussia into a great power although he brutally oppressed manyof its people.
While many countries in Western Europe had made economic,scientific, and cultural changes by the 17th century, Russia—the largest country at the time—was still a mostly illiterate,agricultural society, based on a feudal system of serfdom. It hadno army, few schools, and almost no factories. Foreigners werekept out. Peter was determined to bring Russia up to date.
In 1697 Peter traveled to Europe in disguise (although at over6 feet tall, he was rather recognizable). He worked as a carpenterin a Dutch shipyard, learned how to cobble shoes, engrave metal,and even to pull teeth.
Russia & Sweden After the Great Northern War
Peter the Great’s Contributions Warm water port---St. Petersburg—Window to the West
Peter the Great’s Contributions
Shaving of Beards
Peter the Great’s Contributions Women no longer had to wear veils, had to start wearing high heels New calendar Potatoes from the “New World” Building of factories Started first newspaper Modernized army Mining and exporting of iron Long overcoats banned...short jackets like the West Nobles served in army or civil service for life Built schools and universities--- required 5-year education away from
home Table of Ranks: Meritocracy Commoners drafted into the army for life.
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/peter_the_great1.htm
The Winter Palace, St. Petersburg
Poland: A failed State Largest state in Eastern Europe The Noble Republic - Elected Kings Any noble could veto any law Complete collapse of central government Enserfment of peasant population Eventual disappearance of Poland from map
of Europe –why? No constitutionalism and no absolutism
Conclusions
What do all forms of absolute monarchy have in common (including France)?
What characteristics of leadership are necessary to maintain absolute authority?
Is it realistic to expect that absolutism would endure throughout a nation’s history?
What kinds of reactions to absolute rule might you expect in the years ahead?