Decline of European Powers Flashcards
What contributed to Polish decline?
Privileged nobility and sandwiched between two powers
What happened to Poland in 1795?
Prussia, Russia, Austria carve it up- won’t return until post-WW1
What was pre-Philip II Spanish gov’t like?
decentralized–regional aristocracy (cortes) controlled
What happened during Philip II’s reign that begun Spanish decline?
bankrupt, especially form losing the Anglo-Spanish War and independence of Portugal and Netherlands
What is the significance of King Charles II of late 1600s? Who succeeded him?
Last Habsburg on Spanish throne and a bad ruler. Louis XIV’s grandson Philip of Anjou selected as heir–Bourbons replace Habsburgs
What was the Spanish economy like?
focused on colonies and didn’t innovate. Slumped into 20th century
When and why was the Dutch Golden Age?
1600s–world shipping/manufacturing control including only Far East (Dutch East India Company). Also religious tolerance prevented tension.
Why did the Dutch decline in the late 1600s?
Lost colonies to England and such and lose trading prominence. 1720 no longer major power
How unified is the HRE after 1648?
Basically just a bunch of states afraid of the Turks. 300 states in empire.
Austrian Habsburg power?
no unity and little colonization. Basically just stuck around until 1918. Won Great Turkish War under Leopold I.
Height of Ottomans
1500s, particularly Suleyman I the Magnificent (r. 1520-1566)– great bureaucracy, larger than Rome
What ruler started Ottoman decline?
Selim II (1566-74)–Drunkard–didn’t care about Sultanate, immoral
Why did the Ottomans decline?
Rulers become insane and stop caring about people and gov’t
bureaucracy/ military (Janissaries) take over
Europeans developing technology, unlike Ottomans
What battle showed Ottoman decline?
Battle of Lepanto 1571–European navy beats Ottomans in Mediterranean
How did the Ottomans fail in the Great Turkish War?
Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa sieges Vienna. Poland saves plagued Vienna and Holy League wrecks Ottomans. Lose Hungary.
