1. The Rise of Austria, Prussia, and Russia and the Changing Power Structure in Europe in the 17 th and 18 th Centuries.

2. Political Changes in Eastern Europe ► Three aging empires: gave way to new empires of Austria Prussia and Russia ► Holy Roman Empire: religious divisions and war in 16 th and 17 th century ► Ottoman Empire: could not maintain possessions in E. Europe and Balkans ► Poland: liberum veto – voting in Polish parliament had to be unanimous (= weak gov’t)

3. The Austrian Hapsburgs ► Multinational empire: Austrian, Hungarian, & Bohemian kingdoms ► Cosmopolitan aristocracy: serfdom ► Leopold I (1658- 1705),: successfully repelled Turks ► Turkish threat: relatively religiously tolerant empire

4. The Austrian Hapsburgs ► Charles VI  Pragmatic Sanction (1713) issued by Charles VI: Habsburg territories indivisible; only Habsburgs could rule (daughter Maria Theresa)  War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748) – (King George’s War – 1744-1748)  Prussia, France, Bavaria & Spain vs. Austria and Russia  Prussia tool Silesia from Austria; Prussia now most powerful German state: “Great Power”  Treaty of Aix-laChapelle (1748): legitimized Frederick the Great’s conquest.

5. The Austrian Hapsburgs ► Maria Theresa (r. 1740-1780): Wars of 1740s led to internal consolidation ► Reduced serfdom (more than any other e. European ruler except her son Joseph II)

6. The Austrian Hapsburgs ► Joseph II (1765-1790) – greatest of the Enlightened despots (“greatest good for greatest number”)  Abolished serfdom in 1781, freedom of press, freedom of religion & civic rights, more equitable justice system, made German official language (to assimilate minorities), increased control over Catholic education, expanded state schools, left empire in economic and political turmoil: Leopold I rescind many laws (e.g., serfdom)

7. Hohenzollerns in Prussia ► Frederick William, The Great Elector (r.1640-1688)  Rule consolidated after 30 Years’ War: military force & taxation  Junkers: nobility sided with king for stability; hereditary serfdom in 1653  Created most efficient army in Europe

8. Hohenzollerns in Prussia ► Frederick I (r. 1688-1713)  (Elector Frederick III) “The Ostentatious” (1688- 1713); 1 st “King of Prussia”  Allied with Habsburgs in War of League of Augsburg and War of Spanish Succession.

10. Hohenzollerns in Prussia ► Frederick William I (r. 1713- 1740) “The Soldiers’ King”  Established Prussian abolutism  “Sparta of the North”: Largely a military state – best army in Europe  Junkers became officers caste in army in return for king’s absolutism

11. Hohenzollerns in Prussia ► “Frederick the Great” (Frederick II: 1740-1786) of Prussia  At war for first half of his reign  Became a reformer during 2 nd half of his reign – ruler was the “first servant of the state”  Religious freedom, education in schools and universities, codified laws, promoted industry and agriculture, encouraged immigration  Social structure remained heavily stratified: serfdom; extended privileges for the nobility, Junkers became heart of military; difficult upward mobility for middle class leadership

12. Peter the Great in Russia ► Romanov Dynasty (1613-1917)  Michael Romanov (1613-1645)  Created Russian empire across Asia to the Pacific (largest nation by 1689)

14. Peter the Great in Russia ► Peter the Great (1682-1725)  1698, put down revolt by strelski (Moscow Guards)  westernization (modernization): mostly for military purposes  state-regulated monopolies created; industrial serfdom  Table of Ranks: educational training for new civil service (mostly of nobles)

15. Peter the Great in Russia ► St. Petersburg begun in 1703 on Baltic; largest city in Northern Europe by his death. ► “Winter Palace” sought to emulate Versailles. ► Great Northern War (1700-1721) ► Charles XII, 18-yr-old Swedish king ► Battle of Poltava, 1709: Peter defeated Sweden ► Treaty of Nystad (1721): Peter gained Baltic states “window to the West”

16. Alternatives to Absolutism ► Sweden  Nobles use the absence of the king during warfare to reaffirm their power. ► United Provinces  Merchants and landowners in the Estates General held the House of Orange in check. ► Poland  King was elected by nobles, who continued to hold the power.