European Powers in the Age of Enlightenment Flashcards
What were the changes the 18th century saw with nation-states?
Prussia and Russia emerged as great powers while Austria, France, and Great Britain adjusted to changing political, economic, and social circumstances.
What were Enlightened Absolutists?
They were absolute monarchs who implemented some of the ideology of Enlightenment philosophes that met their desires or enhanced their power or personal authority. This Enlightenment could also be achieved at the expense of the nobility and the Church.
What are examples of Enlightened Absolutists?
Catherine the Great of Russia, Joseph II of Austria, and Frederick II of Prussia
Why was it surprising that Prussia became a dominant European power in the 18th century?
It was a poor German state that was devastated in the Thirty Years War. It had poor agricultural land and labor shortages that led to the establishment of serfdom.
Who were the Junkers?
The Prussian nobility. Rulers generally needed their support in order to govern.
Who was Frederick William?
Frederick William worked an agreement with the Junkers in which they provided him revenue in exchange for his acceptance of their control over the serfs in order to expand his army. The Junkers became deeply involved in the army. When Frederick William died, Prussia had a well-organized army, an expanded territorial base, and a very efficient civil service.
Who was Frederick the Great?
Frederick was the greatest Prussian ruler who was an enlightened absolutist fascinated by intellectual France. Frederick freed the serfs on royal estates but didn’t do so on private estates to maintain the Junkers’ support. He ended capital punishment, but did not emancipate Jews in his kingdom.
Who was Maria Theresa?
She was an Austrian empress who pushed a series of reforms that removed hardships off the serf population.
Who was Joseph II?
Maria Theresa’s son, he was religiously tolerant and sought to remove the Catholic Church from Austrian lands, viewing them as a threat to centralized authority. He issued Edicts of Toleration granting Jews, Lutherans, and Calvinists freedom of worship; however, Jews were still discriminated against. He also raised taxes on the wealthy and abolished serfdom. After his death, Leopold II rolled back several of his reforms.
What was the Pragmatic Sanction?
It allowed Habsburg lands under the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV to remain intact under one ruler and pass the throne onto Maria Theresa.
What was the War of Austrian Succession? When was it?
It was a war (1740-1748) that occurred after Charles IV died; Prussia immediately seized Silesia from the Austrian empire. Despite losing Silesia, Maria Theresa remained on the throne. It quickly became a European war, with Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Russia, and Great Britain fighting Prussia, France, and Spain.
How was the War of Austrian Succession resolved?
It was resolved through the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, where the Austrian throne was saved for the Habsburgs.
What were the results of the War of Austrian Succession?
Prussia emerged as a German state and a major rival to Austria. Additionally, the Diplomatic Revolution occurred wherein the Austrian Habsburgs allied with France, while Sweden and Russia made an alliance that was threatening to Prussia. Great Britain broke off ties with Austria and became allies of Prussia, which gave immense aid to Frederick to continue fighting.
What was the Seven Years War and when was it?
It was a war (1756-1763) where Frederick atempted to put down his enemies before a cohesive alliance was made against the Prussians; the Prussians were ultimately defeated by a large Russian army. Despite losing, the Prussian state was preserved, while the British had won French colonies in Canada and India.
What was Russian interaction like prior to the 18th century?
Russia was largely closed off to western Europe as a result of the Mongol invasions. Russia missed out on the humanistic culture of the Italian Renaissance.
