Study Guide 1 Flashcards
What was “German dualism” in the 18th and 19th centuries?
This refers to the long-standing conflict between Austria and Prussia in regards to their battle over supremacy in Central Europe at the time. The conflict first culminated in the Seven Years’ War.
Which 5 European countries were the Great Powers from 1763 until 1914?
France, England, Russia, Austria, and Prussia
Some of the major developments which played themselves out in the 20th century (and into our own time) have their origins in the late 18th and 19th centuries. What are some of these developments?
Revolutionary developments such as:
Modern industrialization - The growth of taste & powerful economies
Modern urbanization - growth of vast cities
Modern bureaucratization - growth of vast bureaucracies & administrators
and even more so: ways of thinking, specifically, modern ideologies:
liberalism
conservatism
feminism
anarchism
nationalism - leading to its extreme forms: fascism & racism
socialism - leading to its extreme forms: Marxism & communism
all of these grow and flourish in the 19th century
all of these first clearly manifest themselves in the 1790s, during the French Revolution
What are some of the main principles of “Enlightenment” thought – for example, what were five common elements of Enlightenment thought in the 1700s? Which scientist was a major reference point for THE Enlightenment and why?
5 Common elements included:
- an emphasis on REASON rather than tradition or faith
- the idea of progress (human society moving forward; whatever is new is better)
- the state is the instrument of progress (the state is the best guarantee for social welfare)
- a strong emphasis on “Freedom” (freedom from despotism and arbitrary power, superficialities and artificialities of society, and from the Church, superstition, and intolerance)
- a strong anti-religious, anti-Christian bias (all religion is ignorance and superstition which hinders the progress of science)
Newton
Where did parliamentary traditions in Europe come from?
Comes from the Roman Forum, circa 450, in which the Romans adopted and expanded upon the concept of self-government. In the Roman Forum, Roman orators addressed the General Assembly from the Rostra and the people afterward voted on pending questions.
Also comes from the councils that advised the kings; the shared power in feudalism which allows for self-government; and the local self-governments which have always existed.
“Enlightened despotism” describes monarchies that were very reformist, but why are these reforms controversial today – for example, what kinds of institutions did such monarchies attack and destroy, and what did they strengthen? Who are some examples of “enlightened princes”?
Most enlightened monarchs fostered education and allowed religious tolerance, freedom of speech, and the right to hold private property.
Because the monarchies are actually destroying those representative institutions (local and regional self-government) and trying to become more absolutist.
Examples include: Frederick II (the Great), Peter I (the Great), Catherine II (the Great), Maria Theresa, Joseph II, and Leopold II.
Catherine the Great
a. In which country was she born (that is, was she Russian by birth)?
b. In what way did she become Empress of the Russias?
c. In her time, what were “serfs” and how were they like or different from slaves?
d. Catherine wanted to ameliorate or abolish serfdom; why was she unable to do so?
e. Which areas did she absorb into Russia, and which famous Black Sea city did she establish?
a. No, she was not Russian by birth. She was born in Holy Roman Empire.
b. She essentially usurped her husband, Peter the III, asking him to step down. He died mysteriously several days later.
c. Serfs refer to the peasants in a feudal system. They would work for the Lord of a Manor. Serfdom was essentially NO DIFFERENT from slavery, except that it wasn’t as harshly viewed in society.
d. She felt it was politically more reasonable to tolerate serfdom because it aided the economy. And also because there is a tremendous surf uprising before her attempt to do so.
e. She absorbed significant parts of Poland, in the partitions of Poland. She established the city of Odessa.
Generally, what is the significance of the Prince of Wales in Great Britain? And of the Dauphin in France?
The Dauphin in France was the title given to the hair apparent to the throne of France from 1350 - 1791 and from 1824 - 1830. The Prince of Wales is the title given to the heir apparent to the throne of England, and it still continues to this day.
Louis XVI belonged to which family (dynasty)? Which city was his main capital? What were his main palaces (name at least 3)?
The House of Bourbon. Paris was his main capital. Palace of Versailles, Tuileries Palace, and Fontainebleau.
What was the “First Partition of Poland”? What influence did Marie Antoinette unexpectedly have upon this development, and what does this fact indicate about European politics at this time? Why was it possible to partition this large country without military battles or wars?
It was the first of three partitions that wiped Poland off of the map. Its motivation: to restore the balance of power among Russia, Prussia, and Austria. HOW DID MARIE ANTOINETTE INFLUENCE THE PARTITION? It was possible to partition such a large country without military battles or wars ecause European politics at this time was very surreptitious; for example, the Austrian ambassador to France was spying on Marie Antoinette in order to keep Maria Theresa informed about her doings.
European policy is completely integrated with the personal lives of these monarchies. If a couple family members have a dispute, that has major repercussions with thousands of people.
Possible because in Poland’s instance, it is so weak and divided and there is no effective government to resist.
Most people in Poland want to be left alone
Maria Theresa was and is considered one of the greatest of Habsburg rulers. Why? Were the Habsburgs in general considered a particularly able family among European dynasties?
Because she left, after a reign of forty years, a revitalized empire that influenced the rest of Europe throughout the 19th century. And yes, the Habsburgs were considered an INCREDIBLY able family, and Maria Theresa left them with dominion over large amounts of land. These dominions were powerful in their own right, without the support of the Holy Roman Empire.
When Frederick the Great dies (3 years before the outbreak of the French Revolution), he bequeathed upon his nephew and successor, Frederick William II, a more unified and self-confident kingdom with a stunning military reputation. What was Prussia’s reputation?
And what famous monument did Frederick William II build that still exists as a hallmark for the city of Berlin today?
Which instrument did FWII play?
To which famous composer from Vienna did he offer a job (a highly lucrative one), but that young composer refused?
Prussia’s reputation at the time that Frederick William II took the throne was that of a very militaristically ordered political system. This is because Frederick felt that war was a continuation of politics by other means.
The Brandenburg Gate
The Cello
Mozart
Considering Silesia and Poland, in which literally 100,000s of people woke up one morning to discover they now lived in a different country with a significantly different government: at this time (the 1700s) and as had been the case for centuries, what did most people in Europe want, in the context that at any moment, they might find themselves living in a different country without actually having moved?
Most people wanted economic and military security. They wanted to live in peaceful and stable conditions. Want to be left alone.
