AP Euro Unit 2-Review

AP Euro Unit 2: Eastern Absolutism - Napoleonic Era

• This unit is extremely information-heavy due to the existence of French people.

Absolutism in Eastern Europe (1600-1740)

• Examines the establishment and consolidation of absolutism in Eastern European states such as Austria, Prussia, and Russia.

Key Empires and Events

Holy Roman Empire (HRE) and the Ottoman Empire

• Religious Division: A complex religious landscape characterized by conflicts among Catholic, Lutheran, and Calvinist princes.

• Ottoman Empire:

  • Lost eastern Europe and the Balkans to Austria and Russia.

  • Experienced a decline post the failed Battle/Siege of Vienna (1683) while previously thriving during the Dark Ages.

  • Known for its religious tolerance, incorporating talented Christian children into its bureaucracy despite being a Muslim empire.

  • Janissary Corps: A loyal military unit composed of Christian slaves not chosen for bureaucracy.

Polish Kingdom

• Weak Monarchy: The inability of the Polish monarchy to consolidate power over the nobility led to Poland's partition between Russia, Austria, and Prussia.

• Liberum Veto: Required unanimous voting in parliament (sejm), rendering it ineffective and preventing systemic strengthening of the kingdom.

Characteristics of Eastern (Russian) Absolutism

• Social Structure: Powerful nobility, weak middle class, and oppressed peasantry under serfdom.

• Historical Context: Lacked the influence of Crusades; resulting in underdeveloped trade and no strong middle class.

Efforts to Consolidate Power

• New Monarchs: Consolidated power through laws restricting peasants’ movement.

• Hereditary Serfdom Re-established: Kings granted nobles control over serfs in exchange for loyalty, reducing noble power overall.

The Austrian Empire

• Post-War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1713): Power shifted, with the Habsburgs concentrating influence in Austria after the Treaty of Utrecht.

• Diverse Holdings: Comprised various peoples with differing legal statuses, leading to issues of autonomy and national unity.

• Leopold I & Charles VI: Notable Habsburg rulers involved in military and administrative reforms. Charles VI’s Pragmatic Sanction aimed to secure his daughter’s rule yet increased independence among local cultural groups.

Prussian Ascendance

House of Hohenzollern

• Frederick William, the Great Elector (1640-1688): Laid the groundwork for Prussia's emergence as a great power through religious tolerance and militarization.

• Established bureaucracies and increased taxes.

Prussian Militarism

• Frederick William I (1713-1740): Known for infusing military culture into society, Prussia was characterized as an 'army with a state'.

• Frederick II (Frederick the Great) (1740-1786): The epitome of an Enlightened Despot, recognized for reforms within Prussian society and military.

Russian Development through the Romanovs

• Michael Romanov: First tsar of the Romanov dynasty—favoring the boyars to strengthen power after the Time of Troubles while also expanding territory and controlling religion.

• Peter the Great (1682-1725): Known for Westernizing Russia, modernizing the army, and moving the capital to St. Petersburg to isolate the nobility.

Cultural and Religious Reforms

• St. Petersburg as a Symbol of Modernization: Modeled after Western European cities, emphasizing control over the nobility.

• Administrative Reforms: Formed a meritocracy, enhancing the bureaucratic efficiency of the Russian Empire and changing standards for civil service.

The Scientific Revolution (1500-1700)

• Shifted focus from a religious worldview towards a secular perspective grounded in observation and experimentation, promoting rationalism and the application of scientific methods.

Influential Figures in Astronomy and Science

• Nicolaus Copernicus: Advocated heliocentric theory.

• Galileo Galilei: Applied scientific experimentation, famously used the telescope, challenged traditional beliefs and faced condemnation from the Church.

• Isaac Newton: Unified and advanced theories of motion and gravity, laying groundwork for the Enlightenment view of natural laws.

The Enlightenment (1600-1800)

Core Concepts

• Emphasis on reason and individualism as a part of human progress and societal organization.

• Application of scientific principles to human institutions, advocating for deism and natural law.

Key Philosophes and Their Contributions

• John Locke: Positive outlook on human nature, proponent of natural rights and social contracts.

• Voltaire: Critic of the Church and advocate of religious toleration.

• Rousseau & Diderot: Emphasized general will and necessity of education.

Impact of the Enlightenment on Society

1. Emergence of secular worldviews.

2. Significant impact on revolutions (American & French).

3. Reforms in education systems and legal frameworks in various states.

4. Growth of laissez-faire capitalism.

The French Revolution (1789-1799)

Causes and Outcomes

• Rooted in social inequality, financial mismanagement by Louis XVI, inspiring revolutionary sentiments and response to Enlightenment ideas.

• Revolutions lead to political and social upheaval, illustrating the shift from absolutism to republican ideals.

Revolutionary Phases

1. Moderate Phase: National Assembly and Tennis Court Oath, call for constitutional monarchy.

2. Radical Phase: National Convention, Reign of Terror under Robespierre.

3. Directory: Establishment of a more forms responsibility post-Terror leading to eventual rise of Napoleon.

The Napoleonic Era (1799-1815)

• Characteristics of governance under Napoleon, emphasizing meritocracy, legal reforms through the Napoleonic Code, and military campaigns across Europe.

• Conclusively, understood as both a continuation of revolutionary ideas and a transition back towards autocratic governance.

The Congress of Vienna and Aftermath

• Aimed to restore order post-Napoleon, restoring monarchies and establishing a balance of power to avoid future revolutions.

• Legitimacy, compensation, and balance of power principles guided the settlement to stabilize Europe after years of turmoil.