Section 3 CENTRAL EUROPE IN THE AGE OF

Section 3 CENTRAL EUROPE IN THE AGE OF ABSOLUTISM

Habsburg Austria Lost a lot of territory in Thirty Years’ War � Over next 100 years, acquired new lands � �From Turks and Treaty of Utrecht �Stretched into the Balkans, Hungary, and Italian Peninsula.

� Maria Theresa: �Inherited Austria and other Hapsburg lands. �Male was suppose to inherit land, not Female. � Pragmatic Sanction: �Allowed Maria Theresa to inherit all the Hapsburg lands. Laws against her becoming empress � �When husband became Emperor, she became Empress.

Theresa’s/Hapsburg Empire � Patchwork of regions and peoples � Belgians, Bohemians, Croatians, Germans, Hungarians, Italians, Poles, Romanians, Serbs, and Slovenes. � Led to many conflicts of language, religion, and nationality. � German states became resentful to Hapsburg power. � Character and size of Hapsburg Empire ○ Geographic ○ Cultural ○ Historic diversity ○ Made difficult to rule effectively.

Rise of the Hohenzollerns ruled Brandenburg-Prussia (Austria’s chief rival) � Goal: increase power and gain more land � � Branch of family settled in Brandenburg, N. Germany � Ruler of Brandenburg became elector of HRE Ruled several territories including Prussia (Baltic Sea) � Rulers: � � Frederick William (Great Elector) � Ruled at end of Thirty Years’ War. � Unified armies into one strong force. � Improved tax system, agriculture, Industry, and transportation. � Succeeded Great Elector, and all lands Unified in practice under rule of Prussia. � Consolidated power for Honhenzollern family.

Frederick William I Son of Frederick William � Ended lavished spending � Doubled size of army and made efficient fighting force ○ Discipline within army, punishments harsh, soldiers obeyed orders instantly. � King: overhauled govt. and brought state as whole under control. � Prussian army among most powerful army in Europe. ○ Expanded interests and protected its borders. � Tax collecting and government spending fully planned � Encouraged trade and new industries � Children required to go to school �

Frederick the Great (Frederick II) � Son of Frederick William I � Worried that he was not interested in government or military affairs. Wrote poetry, played the flute, read philosophy � King used harsh methods, including prison to change Fred II � � Frederick II and companion tried to escape Prussia � When caught, king made Frederick watch companions execution. � Frederick II � Even stronger ruler than father � Became ruler of Prussia same year as Maria Theresa became ruler of Austria. � Highly intelligent and worked to expand Territory and prestige of Prussia.

Conflict Between Prussia and Austria � Frederick II took Prussian Army to Silesia (Maria Theresa’s powerful territory) � Prussians seized Silesia easily. � Started the War of Austrian Succession � One side: Prussia, Bavaria, Spain, and France � Other side: Austria, Great Britain, Netherlands, Russia � Outcome: Austria lost, and Silesia went to Prussia.

Diplomatic Revolution � “reversal of alliances” � Austria and Great Britain were alliances/Great Britain now allied with Prussia � To keep from Prussia from becoming too powerful, France sided with Austria and Russia.

Rivalries led to Seven Years’ War � Fighting actually began in North America (French and Indian War) � Battles took place on continent and in European colonies overseas. � � Prussia supported by Great Britain � Austria supported by France/Russia � Battles: Prussia defeated French forces. ○ Prevented Austria from reclaiming Silesia. � Prussians were defeated later badly by Austrian/Russia force. � Great Britain won more battles in Canada/India

� Turning Point: Empress of Russia, Elizabeth died � Czar Peter III takes over. Great admiration for Frederick II. No desire to continue supporting Prussia’s enemies. � Broke alliance with Austria/France and made separate peace with Prussia. � King George III: made clear his intention to withdraw. � Seven Years War ended with no clear winner � Signed treaty in 1763 � Confirmed Prussia’s hold on Silesia � Treaty of Paris in same year: ○ Gave most of North American territories to Great Britain.

Years of Peace � Destruction and loss of life in Europe, North America, and India. � Prussia and Russia drained treasuries � Powers became reluctant to fight again � Went from concentrating on war to recovery � Monarchs continued ways to expand national boundaries, find new sources of wealth, and extend their powers. � Frederick the Great: expanded public education, civil service system, and had tolerance for religious minorities. � Prussia recovered economic prosperity. � Prussia also gained new territory within these years.