Rise of Austria, Prussia, and Russia - Nutshelled Modern World History

Summary

In this video, we explore the rise of Austria, Prussia, and Russia in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Holy Roman Empire, plagued by disunity and chaos, was devastated by the Thirty Years' War. From this chaos emerged Austria and Prussia as powerful states, with Austria led by the Hapsburgs and Prussia under Frederick II. Meanwhile, Russia, isolated from the West, was transformed by Peter the Great and later Catherine the Great, who expanded its borders and embraced Westernization. The video concludes with the eventual disappearance of Poland and the strategic alliances among the major European powers.

Takeaways

• 😀 By the 17th century, the Holy Roman Empire was fragmented into hundreds of small states with the emperor holding little power.
• 😀 The Thirty Years' War devastated the German states, causing famine, disease, and depopulation due to mercenaries' destruction.
• 😀 The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 aimed to restore peace to Europe and resolved several international issues, leading to new state formations.
• 😀 Austria, ruled by the Habsburg family, became a powerful Catholic state after the Thirty Years' War.
• 😀 Prussia emerged as a Protestant power, with Frederick William I strengthening its military and bureaucracy.
• 😀 Maria Theresa of Austria faced the War of the Austrian Succession in 1740 when Frederick II of Prussia seized Silesia, leading to her preserving her empire despite not regaining the territory.
• 😀 Frederick II expanded Prussia's military, making it a leading power in Europe during the early 1600s.
• 😀 Russia, isolated from Western Europe in the early 1600s, underwent transformation under Peter the Great, who westernized the country and introduced sweeping reforms.
• 😀 Peter the Great expanded Russia’s borders, built St. Petersburg, and modernized the military, though he ruled autocratically.
• 😀 Catherine the Great continued Peter's legacy, embracing Western ideas, expanding Russia's territory, and codifying laws, while defeating the Ottoman Empire for a warm water port.
• 😀 In 1772, Austria, Prussia, and Russia partitioned Poland among themselves, with Russia gaining eastern Poland, and Poland disappearing from the map.
• 😀 By 1750, the major European powers were Austria, Prussia, France, Britain, and Russia, which formed alliances to maintain the balance of power, with Austria and Prussia being rivals, as were Britain and France.

Q & A

What was the state of the Holy Roman Empire by the 17th century?

By the 17th century, the Holy Roman Empire had become a fragmented collection of several hundred small separate states, with little power or control from the emperor.

What caused the 30 Years War in Europe?

The 30 Years War was caused by a power vacuum in the Holy Roman Empire, where the emperor had little authority over the many princes, leading to a series of brutal wars that devastated the German states.

What were the consequences of the 30 Years War on the German states?

The German states suffered severe depopulation due to widespread famine, disease, and destruction caused by mercenaries who burned villages, destroyed crops, and murdered villagers.

What was the significance of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648?

The Peace of Westphalia was a series of treaties that sought to bring peace to Europe after the 30 Years War, helping to settle international problems and establishing new political dynamics in Europe.

How did Prussia rise as a new power in Europe?

Prussia emerged as a powerful Protestant state under Frederick William I, who focused on strengthening its military and bureaucracy, making it a dominant force in Europe by the early 18th century.

What sparked the War of the Austrian Succession in 1740?

The War of the Austrian Succession was sparked when Frederick II of Prussia seized the Habsburg province of Silesia, challenging Maria Theresa's claim to the Austrian throne.

What was the outcome of the War of the Austrian Succession for Maria Theresa?

While Maria Theresa could not force Frederick II out of Silesia, she preserved her empire, reorganized the bureaucracy, and gained the support of her people.

How did Peter the Great modernize Russia in the late 17th century?

Peter the Great modernized Russia by implementing Westernization policies, forcing Boyers to adopt Western-style clothing and shave their beards, as well as introducing social and economic reforms.

What legacy did Peter the Great leave after his death in 1725?

Peter the Great left a mixed legacy: he modernized Russia but ruled with autocratic power, using terror to enforce his reforms.

How did Catherine the Great continue the work of Peter the Great?

Catherine the Great continued Peter's work by embracing Western ideas, expanding Russian territory, and introducing reforms such as codifying laws and supporting education for both boys and girls.

What led to the partition of Poland in 1772?

In 1772, Russia, Prussia, and Austria agreed to partition Poland in order to avoid war, with each country taking a portion of Poland's territory. This effectively removed Poland from the map.

What were the major European powers in 1750 and how did they interact?

By 1750, the major European powers included Austria, Prussia, France, Britain, and Russia. These nations formed alliances to maintain the balance of power, with Austria and Prussia being rivals, as well as Britain and France.