Week 6: The Rise of Eastern Europe AP Euro Week 6: The Rise of Eastern Europe
Three Aging Empires Holy Roman Empire Poland Ottoman Empire Weakness/disintegration of these empires opened the way for the rise of new nation-states in the East
Holy Roman Empire Ruled by Habsburgs Decentralized empire with ~300 separate sovereign states Hurt by Thirty Years’ War Peace of Westphalia (1648) solidified decentralization Habsburgs turned to focus on strengthening their Austrian empire
Poland Largest nation in Europe in 1500, but became weakest nation by 1600s Szlachta (Polish nobility) made up ~10% of population and were very powerful, limiting power of king King was elected and soon neighboring countries began vying for influence Liberum veto: any noble could veto an action of the legislature (exploding the diet) Eventually Poland is partitioned – divided up amongst the major powers (more on this later)
Ottoman Empire Powerful in 1400s and 1500s but weakened by internal strife 1683: unsuccessfully attacked Habsburg capital city Ruled by sultan who was also the caliph (religious leader) often corrupt Janissaries: a force of infantry, had influence
Austrian Empire Consisted of: Held off Turkish invasion in 1683 “hereditary provinces” – Upper & Lower Austria Bohemia, Moravia, & Silesia Hungary & Transylvania Held off Turkish invasion in 1683 In 1697, defeated Turks with help from the Prince Eugene of Savoy In the Treaty of Karlowitz (1699) they gained Hungary, Transylvania, and the Balkan Peninsula
Map of Austria After 1648
Austrian Empire Charles VI (1711-1740) issued Pragmatic Sanction in 1713 Unified Habsburg territories only one Habsburg line of heirs Ensured that Charles’ only daughter would become queen Charles made deals with other countries to get them to accept Pragmatic Sanction
Prussian Empire Originally was a small state in the HRE called Brandenburg-Prussia Rose to power because of: Strong leadership of Hohenzollerns **Militarism** Frederick William the “Great Elector” created a standing army and made it very powerful
Prussian Empire Elector Frederick III of Brandenburg was named king (Frederick I) after helping the HRE with troops in the War of Spanish Succession Frederick William I was the first great king Improved efficiency & discipline of army Increased size of army (paid for by $ from government lands and from increased taxes) Introduced merit system of government service
Russia: Background In the 1500s, Ivan III and Ivan IV ruled Russia Ivan IV was known as “Ivan the Terrible” After Ivan IV’s reign, there was a period of civil war/internal strife over who would rule, know as the Time of Troubles In 1613, Michael Romanov was elected tsar (first of Romanov dynasty)
Russia’s Isolation Russia was seen as “backward” as compared with the rest of Europe because: Didn’t trade with the West because of lack of ports Still had feudalism and serfdom Women wore veils, men wore beards
Russia: Social & Religious Conflict In 1667, Stephen Razin led a rebellion of Serfs and Cossacks Plundered vessels, gathered followers Rebellion put down in 1671 Stricter system of serfdom Old Believers: rejected reforms in Russian Orthodox Church, threatened to break away from church
Russia: Peter the Great Traveled through West saw Russia as “backward” Banned beards and veils in an attempt to make Russia more “civilized” Built St. Petersburg like a Western city Established taxes, used funds to boost economy Put church under supervision of the Holy Synod, a committee of bishops, with himself as “Procurator of the Holy Synod”
The Great Northern War 1700-1721 Russia, Poland, & Denmark vs. Sweden Sweden was then ruled by Charles XII and controlled Baltic In 1700, Sweden defeated Russia at Battle of Narva Peter builds up army & navy In 1721, Russia defeats Sweden at Poltava Treaty of Nystadt (1721): Russia returned Finland but gained entry to Baltic
Peter the Great: Conclusion His sweeping reforms modernized Russia and got rid of a lot of “backwardness” but the reforms didn’t significantly reach lower classes peasants still in squalor/serfdom