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)

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?