How did the basic structure of society in E. Europe become different from that of W. Europe?

How did the rulers of Austria, Prussia, and Russia manage to build powerful absolutist states?

3 aging empires:A. Holy Roman Empire

B. Republic of Poland

C. Ottoman Empire

3 emerging states: A. AustriaB. PrussiaC. Russia

Never strong … & 30 Years’ War delivered final blow

1648

emperor elected Habsburgs bargain w/ electors to keep

title

imperial diet authority to raise troops & taxes lost

after 30 Yrs. War

Brandenburg-Prussia

Austria

elected king + constitutional liberties weak central authority – power lay in

szlachta & regional diets

Once a might military power: janissaries devshirme sieges on Vienna

in 1529 & 1683

Ottoman print of devshirme in Bulgaria. Every fifth Christian child

taken.

1923 – dissolution

Similar paths of development up to 1300: trade, towns, pop. expansion into frontier opportunities for socioeconomic

advancement

Diverged after 1300:Western Europe Eastern Europe

serfdom abolished serfdom reestablished

weak lords powerful lords

urban agrarian

strong middle class weak middle class

strong states – strong central authority

weak empires – weak central authority

How did eastern European landlords return peasants to serfdom?

(1) restricted movement

(2) took land and labor obligations

How were eastern landlords able to enforce their changes to the condition of the peasantry?

Controlled local justice.

Why did serfdom reemerge in eastern Europe?economic interpretation:

W. Europe had same events but did not reinstate serfdom…

Why did serfdom reemerge in eastern Europe?political interpretation:

Western Europe Eastern Europe

What happened

strong monarchs = landlords power

weak monarchs + war = landlords power

Different concepts of mon. authority

monarch has sovereignty and protects his people

monarch is only 1st among equals; does not protect his people

Peasants More power No power

Towns Stronger / kept privileges Weak / lost privileges

Monarchs vs. landlords successful monarchs gained power in 3 key areas:1) taxation2) army3) foreign policy

Habsburg domains to 1795.

Habsburgs (losers!) turn inward & eastward to strengthen the Austrian state

reestablish control over Bohemia

1529 & 1683 – unsuccessful Ottoman sieges on Vienna

Habsburgs acquire Hungary & Transylvania from Ottomans

new Habsburg state = Austria, Bohemia, + Hungary

1 Habsburg ruler

each state keeps its own gov’t

Pragmatic Sanction (1713) – Habsburg possessions never to be divided, must be passed to 1 heir

Hungary not fully integrated 1703 Rákóczy revolt

Ferdinand II (r. 1619-1637) crushes Bohemian Estates &

creates new loyal Bohemian nobility

Ferdinand III (r. 1637-1657) consolidates German-speaking

provinces (Austria, Styria, Tyrol) creates permanent standing

army

Charles VI (r. 1711-1740) Pragmatic Sanction (1713) Rákóczy’s revolt

strengthened central authority: unified Brandenburg, Prussia,

lands along the Rhine forced Estates to accept taxation created permanent army

factors enabling his success:

war/invasion threats – produced support for army

successful bargaining w/ Junkers

strengthened royal authority:

great military!!!▪ but few wars …▪ even civil society became

militarized – rigid, disciplined

strengthened bureaucracy

eliminated Junker threat

Similar to W. Europe up to ≈1250: Christian (though Eastern Orthodox) territories unified (11th c.) feudal social structure political fragmentation at various times

1250-1700: Russia becomes quite different due to Mongol rule

Russia is vast. It crosses 2 continents: Europe and Asia.

The Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous empire in history. In the 13th c., the Mongols conquered the area around Moscow and Kiev.

unified the eastern Slavs allowed Russian princes who served

them well to retain some authority

Muscovite princes served Mongols well they were rewarded … over time Muscovite princes consolidated power.

1st to stop recognizing the Mongols as Russia’s leaders

Hello Russian absolutism!

Sources of legitimacy – what legitimized the new Russian rulers:1. tsars continued Mongol policies2. got the cooperation of the nobles3. tsars believed they had to carry on Byzantine legacy

(Orthodox Xtianity ; Moscow as “Third Rome” after Constantinople)

1st to take title of “tsar” wars of expansion

successful in the E. – took Mongol land unsuccessful in the W. (Poland-

Lithuania) subjugated boyars – reign of terror service nobles demand more from

peasants peasants flee and form independent outlaw groups = Cossacks

urban traders & artisans bound to towns so Ivan could tax them

limited middle class (vs. W. Europe)

fighting over who would be tsar (Ivan IV’s son died heirless)

bloody Cossack rebellion led by Ivan Bolotnikov (nobles crushed it)

famine and disease invasions by Sweden and Poland

[period ended when the nobles elected Michael Romanov (r. 1613-1645)]

What were his policies?

What made him “great”?

Was he really great?

tsar: term for the Russian ruler (like “king”)

Muscovy: archaic name for Russia

Muscovite: contemporary term for someone from Moscow or archaic term for someone from Russia