section 5.23 three aging empires chapter 5: the transformation of eastern europe, 1648- 1740
TRANSCRIPT
Section 5.23
Three Aging Empires
Chapter 5: The Transformation of Eastern Europe, 1648-1740
Questions to Consider• What major differences may be noted between
eastern and western Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries?
• Why may the HRE, the Republic of Poland and the Ottoman Empire in the mid 17th century be characterized as “old-fashioned” political institutions?
• Describe the changes in the HRE brought about by (a) the Reformation, (b) the 30 Years’ War, © the Peace of Westphalia.
• What was distinctive about the political life of the Poland in the 17th century?
• How would you categorize the nature of Ottoman rule in eastern Europe? What changes were taking place in the 17th century?
Introduction
• 1648 Modernity v. Tradition
• HRE, Poland, and the Ottoman Turks=Tradition
• Prussia, Austria, and Russia are rising to new heights
– Eventually they will expand to absorb territory on their perimeters
Rough line divided east and west• Less urban• Labor less productive• Bourgeoisie less influential• Peasants becoming serfs (robot)
–Commercial revolution in the west changed the working class into a mobile free populace
• Result is a powerful landholding class in Prussia, Austria and Russia
Three Aging EmpiresHRE, Poland, Ottoman TurksSimilarities
• Loose, ranging, and undefined borders
• Central authority weak & relied on various dignitaries
• Inefficient government administrations
• Diverse ethnic or language groups
• Lack of centralization
Holy Roman Empire1714
The Holy Roman Empire after 1648War• Devastated by the Reformation and 30
Years War• Thirty Years War drained capital and
reduced commercial connections • Arts and letters drifted to low ebb
– Leibniz and Bach were among the few noteworthy minds
• Motley Crew of States– Multitude of laws, tariffs, tolls,
coinage, and calendar slowed economic development
• Hundreds of independent states capable of action and intent on preserving Germanic liberties– capitulations
• No central authority allowed to impede the imperial diet Absolutism was developed in the small states and cities – Miniature league of nations
protected large and small states alike
• Marriage and inheritance was an avenue to accumulated power
Lacks army, revenue, and working government
The Holy Roman Empire after 1648
Poland
Poland 1650Republic
– Technically a republic b/c king was elected
• Really feudal • Diverse population
Szlachta’s Power • Landed aristocracy • Blocked both absolutism &
parliamentarianism• Elected king had to accept
capitulations • “exploding” • Liberum veto (free veto) Szlachta
• King had no army, no courts, and no income
• Nobility paid no taxes, held armies and conducted foreign affairs independently – Serfs fell into virtual bondage
• Power vacuum was perceived by surrounding political powers
• 1660 East Prussian fief became independent– Fatal characteristic of Poland
will haunt her throughout history
Poland 1650
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire 1650Militarily Dated• Was once a power• JanissariesEthnically/Religiously
Diverse• Little focus on
assimilating subjected people
• Only Muslims subject to Koranic Law
• Policy of religious tolerance
• Religious leaders mediated between the Ottomans and non-Muslims
• Economic motive for toleration
• External interests gained privileges within the empire – Trade protections were
given to French traders since 1535
• Equitable legal systems• Outlying governors had near
free had over their areas of control
• By 1663 trouble for Europe is fermenting in Hungary
The Ottoman Empire 1650
Map Activity
• On the outline maps of Europe indicate (a) in the upper panel the approximate boundaries about 1660 of the HRE, the Republic of Poland, and the Ottoman Empire; (b) in the lower panel the boundaries of the three “new” states---Austria, Prussia, and Russia---as they had developed by 1795
• Show the boundary of east and west (agrarian zone)• Label the Danube, Elbe, Oder, Vistula, Po, Volga rivers• Label the Adriatic, Black, North, Baltic, and
Mediterranean Seas• Label Trieste• Use pages 212, 216 and 222 of 8th edition