1. The Rise of Austria, Prussia and Russia
Chapter 4, Sections 4 and 5
The Rise of Austria, Prussia and Russia

2. The Thirty Years’ War Who? When? Where?
Catholics vs. Calvinists in the Holy Roman Empire
Eventually involved other European countries (France, Sweden, Netherlands, Poland and Spain)
When?
Where?
The Holy Roman Empire

3. Why? Both religious and political reasons
Many states in the HRE had become Protestant, but the HRE (Ferdinand II) tried to make states Catholic to increase his power
“Defenestration of Prague”: the event that actually started the war
Protestants threw 2 Catholic officials out a window and they landed in manure
This led to revolts and eventually an all-out war
Other European nations became involved because they didn’t want the HRE to unite, which would throw off the balance of power

4. Outcome Peace of Westphalia (1648)
France was the biggest winner because they had biggest role in defeating HRE
The HRE and Hapsburg family biggest losers
The Treaty did 2 things:
Guaranteed the rights of Calvinists to worship in the HRE
Ensured that the HRE would remain independent states and not unite

5. Habsburg Austria Goals after Thirty Years’ War:
Reassert their power in Europe
Gain lands to compensate for land lost in the war
They did add Bohemia, Hungary, part of Italy and part of Poland
Challenges for Austrian Emperors:
Their lands contained a very diverse group of people of many different nationalities and cultures
This would keep them from every truly becoming Absolute Monarchs

6. War of Austrian Succession/Maria Theresa
Emperor Charles VI died with no male heir
Before he died he signed an agreement with other European monarchs stating his daughter would become Empress
Other monarchs agreed, but tried to take advantage of her after his death
War broke out after the King of Prussia invaded and took some of her lands

7. Prussia Hohenzollern Family Absolutism Ruling family in Prussia
Prussia was a central European nation that was spread out across HRE
Protestants
Absolutism
Like other nations, Prussian Kings ruled absolutely by increasing military and limiting nobles’ rights

8. Prussia Junkers= Prussian nobles Military:
To keep control of their lands Prussia developed a strong military
4th largest in Europe

9. Frederick William
First Prussian ruler to have title of “King” in Prussia
He increased the military
Made Prussia a military state

10. Frederick II Son of Frederick William I
Frederick II aka “Frederick the Great” because of his military campaigns
Helped gain more land by taking over part of Poland and going to war with Maria Theresa of Austria

11. Russia Peter the Great: Time of Troubles: Romanov Dynasty
1st Czar to rule with absolute power
Move Russia toward becoming a more modern nation
Time of Troubles:
Period of anarchy after death of Ivan the Terrible who had no heir
Romanov Dynasty
Ruling family from end of Time of Troubles until Russian Revolution in 1917

12. Peter the Great Travels west: 1697 To study Western technology
Learned about gov’t, manners, factories and shipbuilding
Brought experts back to Russia with him

13. Peter the Great Westernization Absolutist policies:
Peter’s policy to adopt Western ideas, technology and culture
Beards, coats, women
Absolutist policies:
Had to become absolute monarch to get Russians to change

14. Absolutist Policies Boyars: Serfdom: Russian nobles
Worked in gov’t and military
Serfdom:
Policy of peasants being tied to the land
Peter expanded this policy to improve Russian agriculture and keep boyars happy
Some serfs became soldiers or worked on roads, canals, etc.

15. Exile
Those who resisted Peter’s changes were tortured, executed or exiled
Those who were exiled were sent to Siberia

16. Expansion Increased army to expand Russian lands Warm-water port:
Major goal of Peter was to obtain land along Black Sea
He never achieved that goal

17. Great Northern War War with Sweden
Peter won and gained lands on Baltic Sea (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania)
Better access to W. Europe

18. St. Petersburg Peter’s “window to the west”
Designed in style of W. Europe
Became a symbol of Peter’s goals to Westernize Russia

19. Catherine the Great German princess
Married heir to the throne of Russia
She would eventually become one of Russia’s great rulers

20. Peter III Weak ruler Husband of Catherine
Murdered by nobles (was she involved???)
After his death she became Czarina

21. Expansion She went to war with Ottoman Empire
Through war she gained warm water port on the Black Sea (Peter’s goal)

22. Partition of Poland Between 1772 and 1795
Series of invasions led to disappearance of Poland from map
Austria, Prussia and Russia divided lands
Poland had a weak King… this showed the importance of strong monarchs in the 18th Century