Europe During the Enlightenment

18th Century Wars (War of Spanish Succession, War of Austrian Succession, and The Seven Years War) and Capitalism

War of Austrian Succession

War of Spanish Succession (1713-1714)

● Result: Quadruple Alliance to preserve peace○ Britain, Netherlands, France, Austria, and

Netherlands

War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748)

Causes

Frederick the Great challenges Habsburg power by questioning Maria Theresa's inheritance

France, Spain, and Sweden join Prussia

Results

Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748): Prussia’s annexation Silesia recognized

Alliances swap: Britain - Prussia, France - Austria (but still P v A and B v F)

Prussia, France, Spain, Bavaria, and Saxony

Austria, Great Britain, and Netherlands

18th Century Wars (pg. 2)

Seven Years War

Leading Up to Seven Years War (1750s) Both a continental war and a colonial conflict

Austria v. Prussia (continental) England v. France (colonial)

● Frederick invaded Austria’s ally Saxony

Motivations: all against Prussia’s growing power

● Maria Theresa wants Silesia back ● Louis XV wants to make France great

colonial power● Elizabeth of Russia wants to conquer Eastern

Prussia

● British and French fighting over colonies in India and the Americas

The Seven Years War (1756-1763)Convention of Westminster Treaty of Versailles

Great Britain and Prussia France, Austria, and Russia

Prussia v. Austria and Russia ● Frederick II’s invasion of Saxony successful, but it

created a powerful union against Prussia

● In 1757 East Prussia invaded by Russia○ The Russians temporarily seized Berlin and

overran Pomerania ● In 1760-1761 the Austrians took back Saxony and

Silesia

Frederick’s Victory ● Frederick II victorious because death of his

biggest enemy, Tsarina Elizabeth of Russia in 1762 ○ Peter III, her nephew, idealized

Frederick so he ordered Russian forces to stop fighting → St. Petersburg Treaty

● All alone, Austria driven out of Silesia and forced to sign Treaty of Hubertusberg in 1763○ Return to the prewar land ownership so

no border changes

Britain v. France Focused on fighting each other via colonies than helping out allies on continent

Americas

● French and Indian War: fighting between Britain and France in the Americas ○ British take New France; prevent

France from making a comeback

India

● Louis wanted to defeat British East India Company to make French East India Company dominant in India

● British successful in 1761 because navy

Naval WarfareWarship: centerpiece of navy

● Held firepower of an army and cost about the same● Naval warfare was vicious cycle: whoever had the most ships could defend

their trade routes which generated revenue to be used to buy ships

Victors of the Seven Years War ● Seven Years War 2nd world war

(1st was Thirty Years War)● 4 treaties to end: Treaty of St.

Petersburg, Treaty of Hamburg, Treaty of Hubertusburg, and Treaty of Paris (British colonial victories)

● Loser: France in rapid decline culminating in French Revolution

● Victors:○ Britain: largest colonial

empire ever○ Prussia → strong European

power

Economics

Mercantilism (pg.1) Mercantilism: economic system used 1500s-1700s country’s wealth based on accumulation of gold and silver

To accomplish this, need favorable balance of trade (exports > imports)

Colonies provided raw materials and precious metals; also markets for consumer goods

History of Capitalism 1304 Padua, Italy: Giotto creates a fresco that depicts Jesus driving away moneylenders from temple

● Reinforces Christian attack on immorality of money which holds back capitalism for centuries

1450 Venice, Italy: Franciscan friar Luca Pacioli writes first book on accounting

● Introduces idea of double entry bookkeeping ● Money is not divine punishment or reward, science that can be learned

1555: Geneva, Switzerland: John Calvin emphasis Protestant Virtues: hard work self denial, honesty, patience, and duty

● Being good at business is better in God’s eyes than being an aristocrat or monk → new idea that lays foundation for capitalism

1670 Dutch Republic: first capitalist nation as aristocrats looked down up, hard working merchants revered

● Art: Vermeer’s work emphasize that living at home and running one’s business far more noble than fighting in a war or going to a monastery

1776 London, England: Wealth of Nations published by Adam Smith

● Explains how capitalist economies grow: slavery inefficient because money greater incentive than violence and cost of buying and maintaining slaves > cost of wages

● Division of labor as more efficient mode of production ● Capitalism guided by “invisible hand” by maximizing one’s own profit, benefit

society

Evolution of Capitalism via Consumerism Consumer Revolution

● Began in northwestern Europe as wages rise ● Cycle: more consumers spend, more business grew, more wages rose

Mandeville

● New interpretation of the role of vanity in the economy ● What made countries rich was shopping for pleasure ● Posed a dichotomy: consumerism (consequence: moral decadence) or high mindedness consequence: poverty)

Rousseau

● Called for return of simpler way of life like tribes of Native Americans ● Recommended closing Geneva’s borders, upping taxes on luxury goods ● Preferred virtue to wealth

Compromise of Mandeville and Rousseau: Adam Smith

● Ultimate goal of capitalism: happiness psychologically and materially