Three Aging Empires

The Holy Roman EmpireThe Ottoman Empire

Poland

The objectives of this slide show will be:

• Identify the economic disparity of Eastern Europe.

• Identify the reasons behind the decline of the Holy Roman Empire.

• What were the reasons that Poland became weaker?

• Where were the Turks finally stopped?

• Why did the Parthenon lose its lid?

• What were the traits of the Prussian state?

We are now going to check in on Eastern Europe….

For the most part, Eastern Europe was made up of agricultural

estates with landlords.

It did not have the industry or naval power of Western Europe.

Here, the peasants were terribly poor—in some areas they were serfs, bought and sold with the

land

To make matters more complicated, there were many

different ethnic groups, each with own language.

Besides the Catholics and Protestants, the Muslim faith had encroached into Eastern Europe since the siege of Constantinople

(1453).

Out of these three aging empires would emerge countries who

would play an important part in the history

You will need to pay special attention to the handout and the

pages in your book. I will highlight some of the great “stories” from

this time.

The first empire was the Holy Roman Empire. It was in decline, and by 1806 it

was formally ended by Napoleon.

Voltaire once said

the Roman Empire was

neither Holy, or

Roman, or Empire.

What did he mean by

this?

The idea of the Holy

Roman Empire

was much different than the reality.

At the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 the Empire lost much of its power

—the German states remained separate. Each state was intent

on having its “liberties” preserved.

The French continued to meddle and support various German states against each

other. Still some of the Germany states grew powerful.

Many of these rulers “aped” Louis XIV and tried to establish their

own mini-courts.

Small states lived next to larger states,

and, somehow,

they did get along, for the most part.

Still, there was not a united Germany.

The Poles insisted on their liberties, too. However, they did not get along, and had a policy

that they must agree or their local parliament, or diet, would have to

disband.

This “exploding” or disbanding or their diet was called

“liberum veto.”

The third empire, was the Ottoman Empire—and it was

not a Christian empire.

But Christians lived there, paying “tribute” to the Grand

Sultan.•Throughout the Balkans, groups

of Christians made a life for themselves under the crescent.

•Yet there was always a fear that the Muslims would expand AGAIN and go even further into Europe.

And what country was facing the greatest threat from this Muslim

expansion?

The emerging country of Austria.

• Out of the wreckage of the Holy Roman Empire and the Thirty Years War, Austria and Bohemia were now joined together. Austria-Hungary would replace the HRE.

This new country of Austria sought to root out Protestantism and re-

conquer Hungary.

Remember these three aging empires…because between 1648 and 1918 they

will all be wiped away.

The Turks were held off in 1664, but Louis XIV incited them to move toward Vienna again. They did, in one of the most famous stories in

history. ..

Before we leave Eastern Europe, let’s learn about two fascinating stories…

The siege of Vienna in 1683.

A vast Muslim horde surrounded Vienna for months—many starved.

Louis XIV sat at home,

hoping the Hapsburgs

were weakened for good.

Who saved Vienna?

Eugene of Savoy! Charles of Lorraine! Italian troops! Jan

Sobieski, King of Poland led the decisive charge!

During this war, while the Turks were preoccupied with the siege, the Venetians saw their chance to gain control of Greece from the Turks.

The Turks used the Parthenon as an ammunition dump, until it lit on fire

and blew the roof off…

The Parthenon, which had survived for 2,000 years was

blown to ruins.

Soon, the Turks were pushed back. Eugene of Savoy led

victories at Zenta, which got the Turks out of Hungary.

Finally, the peace of

Karlowitz was signed (1699), ending farther Muslim

encroachment. Austria

also gained Transylvania and Croatia

from the Muslims.

Austria, after these gains in the East, then turned to the West. There, they entered the War of Spanish Succession, and gained

the Spanish Netherlands (their old lands) which were to become the Austrian Netherlands. This area,

of course, is known as today’s Belgium.

The Turks still held Romania and the Balkan peninsula, but they were stopped from expansion.

The Austrian empire had formed itself through several victories.

Once again—what was their ruling house?

Yes, the Hapsburgs.

The State of Prussia also emerges during this time. . .

It had originally been a border state called Brandenburg

Originally, this land was settled by Teutonic Knights after the

Crusades, a place of safe haven for members of their illustrious

organization.

During the Thirty Years

War, Frederick William amassed

power. He would be known as “The Great Elector.” He

was, of course, chosen for his

position.

But his ancestors would soon become the Kings of Prussia—no

longer electors.

The title of King was awarded to Frederick I’s grandson. He helped defeat the armies of Louis XIV in the Battle of Spanish Succession.

For his help, he asked for the title of King of Prussia.

Prussia developed into a unique, military state. All energies went into maintaining a strong army.

In history, we might think of Prussia as a state similar to

ancient Sparta—where young men were trained to be

warriors.

Prussia developed industry and welcomed Jews and Huguenots who fled after the revocation of

the Edict of Nantes.

The landed class was called Junkers—they dominated politics in Prussia, and the future German

State, for years to come.

The Junkers were dependent on the peasants—who were

serfs, tied to the land with little freedom of movement.

The term Prussian

survives today—as a terms that means

duty, obedience,

service, elitist, regimented. Even during World War II, Hitler himself

distrusted Prussian officers.

The objectives of this slide show were to:

• Identify the economic disparity of Eastern Europe.

• Identify the reasons behind the decline of the Holy Roman Empire.

• What were the reasons that Poland became weaker?

• Where were the Turks finally stopped?

• Why did the Parthenon lose its lid?

• What were the traits of the Prussian state?