1. Absolutism in Eastern Europe

3. Austria, Prussia, and Russia
Monarchs were in “control” up to 1918
These monarchs will have a powerful impact on culture
Architecture
Arts

4. Unlike the West Powerful Nobility
Unlike the West- Nobles were able to suppress the serfs
Weak Middle Class
Oppressed Peasants-serfs

5. Lords and Peasants in Eastern Europe

6. Serfdom increases in the East
Lords created laws that restricted the free movement of peasants – run-a-ways in Prussia had their ears nailed to a post and given a knife to cut themselves free
Landlords took more and more of their land and increased labor obligations
Local lords were judge and jury

7. Consolidation of Serfdom
Poland – Lords could inflict death
Prussia (1653 ) Hereditary subjugation
Russia – (1649) 9 year time limit on runaways was lifted

8. Increase in Agriculture
As European economy expanded, the price of food increased
More peasants meant a surplus of local products were sold to foreign markets
Was it simply to develop of export markets?

9. No effective Central Government
Political rather than economic factors were the difference in the status of serfs.
Identical developments caused opposite results in the west.
Local nobles held more power over weaker kings and increased their political demands
A king in the east was the first among equals
Nobles undermined cities power. Products were sold directly to foreign capitalists
Importance of urban middle class declined “ no more did town air make one free.”

10. East as least and West as Best
Because of social inequalities and harsher economic conditions, the west perceived the east as barbaric and uncivilized.
Therefore the east was considered morally inferior which was eventually tied to ethnicity
The Ottomans

11. The Rise of Austria and Prussia

12. Toward a Central Government
Monarchs gained power in three key areas
Imposed and collected taxes without consent
Created standing armies
Conducted relations with foreign states as they pleased

13. Austria and the Ottoman Turks
Devastated by the Thirty Years War
The loss made them turn inward
Established direct rule over Bohemia
The robot… 3 days a week of unpaid labor
Protestants were stamped out
1683 – Ottomans are in retreat to the east the Habsburgs take Hungary

14. The Pragmatic Sanction 1713
Habsburg land was divided into three fragile political entities
Austria
Bohemia
Hungary
Rakoczy- Revolt
Defeated 1703
All would be passed to a single heir.
Hapsburgs . Hungary accepts Habsburg ruler but is never fully integrated into the Empire.

15. Prussia in the 17th Century
The Elector of Brandenburg – had prestige to elect the Holy Roman Emperor, but no military power
Estates of princes’ were weakened by the Thirty Years War
Frederick William the “Great Elector”
Comes to power 1640

16. Frederick William The Great Elector [r.1640-1688]

17. The Junkers Landowning nobles that had dominated Prussia
Frederick was not resisted in his drive toward absolutism by the nobles “they barked but did not bite”
Different than England which had moved to constitutionalism

18. Frederick the Great Elector
Introduced permanent taxes without consent
Paid for a standing army
The size of the army grew ten-fold
Two major reasons for success
The invaders to the east demanded a consolidation of forces
Allowed the nobles to continue their rights and privileges over the peasants, but the royal authorities could tax the townspeople

19. Frederick the Ostentatious 1688-1713
Weak in mind and body
Man crush on Louis XIV
Luxury and petty tyranny

20. Frederick William I “ The Soldier King” 1713-1740
Prussian war psychology- cult of the military- with the Junkers as officers
Best and strongest soldiers
“Dog eat dog” view of world politics
Violent temper – immediate and severe punishments
Obsession for tall soldiers

21. The Prussian Military Grows from 38,000 to 83,000
Amazing discipline and precision
Although ready for war, he was usually at peace
Tall males were recruited

22. Replaces the Estates with bureaucracy
Frederick was austere which made his country economically conscientious
Ministers were honest and fair

23. Russia
It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma … Winston Churchill

24. The Mongol Yoke Russia was forced to pay tribute
The Greatest prince was the one that paid the most money
Ivan I – “money bags”(r )
Collects taxes for the Mongols
Ivan III (r 1462 – 1505) Muscovite princes’ gain authority
Ivan III stops acknowledging Mongols
Fall of Constantinople – holy Russia 1480

25. Ivan the Terrible(IV) R. 1533-1584
Turns west against the Poland and Lithuanian state
Destroys leading Boyars with secret police
Purges many other elements of society
Greater oppression of the serfs
All were servants of the Prince