The Rise of Russia and Prussia: Crash Course European History #17
Summary
TLDRIn this episode of Crash Course European History, John Green explores the rise of Russia and Prussia during the 17th century. The focus is on Russia's Tsar Peter the Great, who modernized and westernized the country through military reforms, cultural changes, and the founding of St. Petersburg. Meanwhile, Brandenburg-Prussia expanded under the leadership of the Hohenzollern family, particularly Frederick William I, who built a powerful military. Both states centralized power, often at the expense of the peasantry, paving the way for their significant influence in European affairs.
Takeaways
- 🌍 Peter I of Russia, also known as Peter the Great, ruled with widespread public support, despite his autocratic nature.
- 📜 Peter reorganized the military and nobility, introducing a merit-based system and weakening old practices like nepotism.
- 🔧 He was fascinated by Western Europe and embarked on a journey in 1697 to study Western technology and governance, inspiring his modernization of Russia.
- 🏰 Peter built a new city, St. Petersburg, modeled after European cities, using thousands of serfs in harsh conditions.
- 🔬 Peter promoted education and modernization in the sciences, math, and engineering, while reducing the power of the Russian Orthodox Church.
- 🎓 He enforced that sons of the nobility study subjects like math and science to retain their aristocratic status and serve in the military.
- 💂 Prussia also rose as a powerful kingdom, with rulers like Frederick William I focusing on a strong military and consolidating power.
- ⚔️ Both Russia and Prussia used military strength and administrative reforms to solidify their control, often at the expense of the peasantry.
- 🚧 The modernization and state-building in Russia and Prussia led to weakened noble power over peasants, yet further entrenched serfdom.
- 🛡️ Poland-Lithuania, in contrast, failed to modernize and build strong state institutions, leading to its decline as Prussia and Russia rose.
Q & A
Who was Peter I, and what challenges did he face early in life?
-Peter I, also known as Peter the Great, was born in 1672 and was not initially first in line for the Russian throne. His half-sister Sophia ruled as regent, but Peter and his supporters later challenged her rule and established him as Tsar.
What role did various interest groups play in Peter's rise to power?
-Interest groups such as the Orthodox Church, the army, the aristocracy, and wealthy traders helped shape Peter's ascent to power. These groups negotiated to find a consensus candidate for Tsar, and Peter gained public support, helping solidify his claim.
How did Peter the Great reorganize Russian society and government?
-Peter reorganized both the military and the nobility, introducing a meritocratic 'table of ranks' where promotions depended on service to the state. He also diminished the power of the Russian Orthodox Church by leaving the patriarchate vacant and setting up a council to oversee it.
Why did Peter the Great travel to Western Europe, and what did he learn there?
-Peter was fascinated by Western Europe’s advancements in areas like canal building, fire control, and trade. His travels to places like the Netherlands inspired him to modernize and westernize Russia upon his return.
What was the significance of Peter's military reforms?
-Peter modernized the Russian army, increasing its size to 200,000 recruits and improving weaponry. His military reforms proved essential in Russia’s victory over Sweden during the Great Northern War, securing important territorial gains.
How did the creation of St. Petersburg reflect Peter’s vision for Russia?
-St. Petersburg was designed as a modern European-style city with canals and grand buildings, showcasing Peter’s admiration for Western European architecture. It also symbolized his broader push to modernize and westernize Russia.
How did Peter the Great aim to change the role of women in Russian society?
-Peter sought to bring women into public life, decreeing an end to the veiling of women and encouraging their participation in social events. He also created schools for women to learn reading, writing, and other skills.
What impact did Peter's reforms have on the Russian aristocracy?
-Peter reformed the aristocracy by introducing a merit-based ranking system and requiring noblemen’s sons to study subjects like math, science, or engineering. These changes were meant to modernize the ruling class and integrate them into his vision of a modern state.
How did Peter’s modernization efforts affect the Russian peasantry?
-While Peter’s modernization benefited the aristocracy, it often made life harder for peasants. Serfs faced greater restrictions on their mobility and endured harsh working conditions, particularly during the construction of St. Petersburg.
What was the significance of Prussia under the Hohenzollern dynasty during the same period?
-Prussia, under the Hohenzollern dynasty, evolved from a small, landlocked state to a powerful kingdom. Leaders like the Great Elector Frederick William and his descendants focused on strengthening the military, which became one of Europe’s most modern armies.
Outlines
📜 Peter the Great’s Rise to Power
The episode introduces Peter I (Peter the Great) of Russia, who became Tsar in the late 17th century. Despite a challenging start, Peter rose to power through support from key Russian groups, including the Orthodox Church, military, and aristocracy. His reign marked a complex relationship between ruler and people, illustrating that even absolute monarchs required institutional backing to maintain authority. Peter's reforms transformed the military and aristocracy into more merit-based systems, reducing nepotism and favoritism.
⚔️ Peter’s Military Reforms and Westernization
Peter the Great sought to modernize Russia by adopting Western European practices after his travels. He built alliances and overhauled Russia’s military, which played a key role in defeating Sweden in the Great Northern War. This victory in 1721 marked the decline of Swedish influence and the expansion of Russian territory. Peter also began building St. Petersburg, a European-style city, to solidify his vision of a modernized Russia. His reforms also touched on social structures, including women's roles and educational demands for the aristocracy.
💈 Social Changes and Paradoxes Under Peter
Peter enforced cultural changes such as banning beards for men and veils for women to push Russia toward Western European norms. Despite promoting modernity, Peter was personally violent and harsh, leading to further oppression of serfs. While the upper class gained new educational opportunities, the serfs faced more brutal conditions under a system that solidified the aristocracy’s power at their expense. The paradox of Peter’s rule is highlighted by the growing divide between progressive reforms for some and increased exploitation for others.
🦅 Rise of Brandenburg-Prussia
The focus shifts to the rise of Brandenburg-Prussia, led by the Hohenzollern family. Frederick William, known as the 'Great Elector,' fortified his territories against external threats, especially Sweden, and laid the foundation for the future Kingdom of Prussia. The title of king passed to his son, Frederick I. Prussia’s rise was characterized by a strong military and weakened representative bodies, with a consolidation of aristocratic power over peasants, similar to Russia’s serfdom. This laid the groundwork for Prussia’s future as a military powerhouse.
👑 Frederick William I and Military Power in Prussia
Frederick William I, grandson of the Great Elector, further solidified Prussia's military dominance by modernizing the army and increasing the state’s capacity to support it. Known for his focus on military strength, Frederick William I established the General Directory, overseeing taxation and recruitment to benefit the military. His preference for tall soldiers became a unique quirk of his rule. This military-first approach led to the phrase ‘a large army with a small state attached,’ showcasing the outsized influence of Prussia's military on its identity.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Hapsburg Expansion
💡Peter the Great
💡Autocracy
💡Westernization
💡Streltsy Uprising
💡Table of Ranks
💡Great Northern War
💡St. Petersburg
💡Prussia
💡Serfdom
Highlights
The Hapsburgs, with the help of Romanians and others, drove the Ottomans out of large parts of Eastern Europe, starting Hapsburg's eastward expansion.
Russia, under Tsar Peter the Great, sought stability after the 'Time of Troubles,' while Prussia, under the Hohenzollerns, expanded and became powerful.
Peter I, also known as Peter the Great, was physically imposing at 6'9” tall, a symbol of his significant rule and transformation of Russia.
Peter the Great reorganized the Russian military and nobility, implementing a meritocratic Table of Ranks, reducing old favoritism and nepotism.
Peter diminished the power of the Orthodox Church by leaving the patriarch position vacant and setting up a council headed by the Tsar.
Peter traveled to Western Europe to learn from the Dutch and other nations about modern innovations, especially in military and infrastructure.
Peter implemented a standing Russian army, growing it to 200,000 recruits, an unprecedented number for the time, and modernized its weaponry.
After early losses to Sweden in the Great Northern War, Peter built alliances with Denmark and Poland, eventually defeating Sweden in 1721 and expanding Russian territory.
Peter built the new European-style city of St. Petersburg, forcing tens of thousands of serfs to work under harsh conditions.
Peter sought to modernize Russian society by changing the roles of women, mandating public appearances and ending the practice of veiling.
Peter required the Russian aristocracy to study math, science, and engineering, linking social standing with intellectual achievements.
Prussia’s rise began with Frederick William, the Great Elector, who fortified borders, built a strong military, and weakened the power of the nobility.
Frederick William I of Prussia developed one of the most modern and powerful armies in Europe, earning Prussia the reputation of being a 'large army with a small state.'
Both Russia and Prussia's modernization efforts gave more power to the aristocracy over serfs, tightening their grip on the peasant population.
While Russia and Prussia succeeded in state-building and military strength, Poland-Lithuania's weak government structure contributed to its decline in the 18th century.
Transcripts
hi I'm John Green and this is Crash
Course European history so in our last
episode we saw the hapsburgs with the
help of Romanians and some others Drive
the Ottomans out of large swaths of
Eastern Europe which started the
hapsburg expansion Eastward but there
were some other important States making
big moves during the 17th century today
we're going to focus on two of them
Russia which sought stability after a
time of troubles and the house of
Brandenburg Prussia a small state that
within two c CES would grow to become
extraordinarily
[Music]
powerful in the huge Russian Empire Zar
Peter I first became an outsized Monarch
literally he was 6' 9 in tall which is
uh like 3 m yeah just say with authority
green he was 3 m tall don't write that
on your tests now early in Peter's life
his future didn't look particular
promising he was born in 1672 and he was
not first in line to the Russian Throne
his half-sister Sophia was ruling Russia
at the time as Regent for the young
Romanov Brothers of whom Peter was the
youngest Sophia wanted to become the
permanent ruler but Peter and his
supporters had other ideas at the time
many interest groups in Russia helped
shape who ended up with political power
including the Orthodox Church the Army
the aristocracy and Wealthy Trader
and as Peter and his brothers came of
age these groups negotiated to arrive at
a consensus candidate for Zar and then
the Russian people had to seal the deal
so to speak via public demonstrations of
Acclaim and approval which developed the
sacred trust between the ruler and the
ruled in short political power in this
monarchy was not as simple as the Zar
has all of it and Peter only became Zar
with the help of his advisers and the
support of powerful interest groups in
Russia he became an autocratic ruler but
the autocracy was intertwined with
widespread if certainly not Universal
public support from the Russian people
what I'm getting at is that the
relationship between the government and
the Govern is always complex and the
example of the Russian monarchy is
important partly because it helps us to
see that even absolutist governments
could only retain their power by having
support from outside institutions and
individuals now Peter tackled every
facet of State Building he reorganized
both the military and the nobility and
in doing so also reorganized who had
political power and how they could wield
it for the nobility he created a precise
table of ranks with each promotion to a
higher rank depending on the Aristocrat
performing service to the state this
reform aimed to end older political
practices based on networking and
nepotism and favoritism and instead make
the aristocracy more of a meritocracy
Peter also eliminated the power of the
patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church
by leaving the post vacant and setting
up a council or Senate of lay people as
overseers headed of course by the Zar
Peter was also curious and adventurous
he liked to Tinker and build focusing on
clocks and Military machinery and the
deployment of his toy soldiers and he
was fascinated by Western Europe in fact
he set off in 1697 to see what western
rulers were up to the Dutch in
particular attract him you may remember
that they were advanced in Canal
building and Fire Control and
architecture and urban lighting and also
had lots of money from Trading and
having seen all these Enterprises in
action Peter returned from Western
Europe full of determination to
modernize and westernize Russia while
Peter was still in Western Europe in the
spring of 1698 the sty a band of
infantry Men first initiated by Ivan the
Terrible awesome rose up against the bad
conditions that they faced they had
hopes of Reviving the administration of
the Regent Sophia who at the time was
imprisoned Peter ordered them crushed
and when he returned to Russia in August
of 1698 he had hundreds of the stry
tortured exiled or executed The Purge of
the stry actually helped clear the way
for the modern fighting force that Peter
envisioned a major Innovation was giving
Russia a standing army that ultimately
included some 200,000 recruits which was
a massive number for Europe at the time
and Syria training of that Army as well
as modernization of Weaponry ultimately
paid off when it came to battling Sweden
at first during an early Battle of the
Great Northern war the ambitious and
land-hungry ruler of Sweden Charles I
12th defeated Russian forces at narva in
1700 hold on a second Sweden had 12
Kings named Charles history never ceases
to surprise my friends right so Swedish
Charles I 12th also defeated Poland in
the war but then Peter fortified his
army even more and formed an important
Alliance he built a coalition of Denmark
and Poland that ultimately conquered
Sweden in 1721 and ended its Continental
influence as a result of this Victory
Russia obtained Sweden's Continental
territory including Estonia and lvia
Sweden had gone from being a rescuer in
the 30 Years War to being almost
entirely stuck in Scandinavia where they
would go on to engage in fewer Wars and
instead build a state with among the
world's lowest poverty rates and highest
life expectancy the fools all right back
to Russia let's go to the thought bubble
during these years Peter was also
building a European style City with an
outlet to the Baltic called you'll never
guess it St Petersburg tens of thousands
of surfs were commandeered from
Aristocrats workforces to build the new
city at a great cost in lives the marshy
site needed to be entirely reclaimed
through the building of canals you'll
remember Peter's admiration for
Amsterdam and he ordered museums and
libraries and universities and stately
government buildings to Adorn the city
his aristocratic subjects were ordered
to build lavish houses and to hold
social events like dances Peter also saw
the city as the backdrop for the reform
of women's role in society they were to
leave seclusion and appear at public
events Peter decreed the end to veiling
for women and an end to dresses or c for
Boyers that is men in the old
aristocracy further reforms aim to
develop his middle and upper class
subjects as modern thinkers especially
in math and the Sciences to remain in
the aristocratic ranks for instance Sons
had to study math science or Engineering
also requirements for serving as
officers in the military Peter founded
schools including military schools to
teach these subjects and additional
schools to teach women reading and
writing and other skills and unlike
earlier Russian rulers Peter embraced
foreigners not just their Canal building
and lamp lighting but also Their Manners
and fashion thanks th bubbles so Peter
also ended the practice of men wearing
beards did the center of the world just
open they weren't easy to see back there
but it's Stan's favorite joke the old
stick on mustache movie Magic how do I
look Stan you would say that I once
tried to uh do this in uh when I was
shaving my beard and I came downstairs
to show my wife and she said and I'm
going to quote her directly no so in
Peter's Russia you had to shave your
beard so that you could be like a modern
proper European person but just as in
Elizabeth I and Henry VII's England you
could pay a tax to keep your beard and
listen I don't like to get political on
this show but if we reinstituted that
tax the cities of New York and Portland
would pay for health care for everyone
so despite his move toward the rational
and refined and clean shaven Peter
himself could be rough crude heartless
and violent that is the complete
opposite of the kind of Citizen he
wanted to populate his kingdom and that
is a lesson we keep learning over and
over in history Paradox Is Not Unusual
as for surfs their lives became more
difficult as new regulations meant to
attract aristocratic loyalty gave them
fewer rights surfs were stripped of the
right to move from the noble estate
where they worked most lived precarious
lives and were subjected to landowners
brutality they had little recourse to
protect themselves from abuse and were
forced to work in extremely difficult
conditions most surfs did manual or
agricultural labor but some became
highly skilled Artisans to embellish
life for the upper classes creating
intricate Cabinetry or music or
paintings some noble families even
rented out their artist surfs or sent
them touring to bring in funds with
their accomplishments these traveling
surfs helped connect far-flung Russians
to one another through paintings of
distant cities or Landscapes or notable
people for example and peasant song also
eventually found its way into Russian
classical music as it developed in the
19th century but to be clear Peter's
modernization did not mean increased
protection or power for the most
vulnerable which raises a question does
modernization generally result in
protection or power for the most
vulnerable should it and can we even
generalize about what it means to be
modern when there is so much variety
just on this one continent or arguably
subcontinent so the time of Zar Peter
had massively different effects
depending on where you stood some people
were learning more about science or art
than they'd ever been able to before
others were bound to land or lost their
lives in the construction of St
Petersburg history is not just about
what happened but also about where you
sit are you a Boyer son learning new
mathematical discoveries or a peasant
born to a fate of hard labor you can
never escape the other Rising Eastern
Kingdom during this time was the house
of Brandenburg Prussia a bird with an
arm Stan informs me that Brandenburg
Prussia was actually headed by the hoen
Allen Family it grew over the centuries
from a tiny holding to an extensive
Kingdom albe at one that was initially
landlocked okay so I'm going to need you
to brace yourselves because many
Fredericks are coming it's going to be a
little confusing but we will get through
this together the first one to know
about is the great elector Frederick
William who was one of the seven
electors of the Holy Roman Empire he
worked to keep his territories together
in the closing days of the 30 Years War
and to protect them from Attack by
Sweden in the 1650s but as Sweden
started to weaken Poland gave its
dependent Prussia the status of kingdom
and the title of king of that new
kingdom went to the aformentioned great
elector Frederick William and then later
to his son Frederick III at that point
Frederick III became known as king
Frederick I of Prussia because you know
it wasn't already confusing enough
anyway as a ruler Frederick the was
something of a Ur of all the fine things
that were coming to characterize
increasingly affluent and worldly
European monarchs while his son King
Frederick William I I wish I was kidding
was quite the opposite the hoen Allen
Kings who like the Roman offs of Russia
ruled into the 20th century created very
strong institutions beginning with the
great elector Frederick William in the
17th century the military was especially
important to prussia's survival and
growth he understood that brandenberg
Russia's lack of natural boundaries made
it really vulnerable to those wanting to
expand their territory which in the 17th
century was everyone so State Building
in Prussia involved fortifying its
borders a strong military isn't the only
way to stabilize power but it certainly
is a way Additionally the great elector
Frederick William weakened the
representative bodies or Estates General
through which the nobility had its say
in the kingdoms running but to make up
for it the monarchs allowed the nobility
to intensify their grip on peasant lives
very similar to what happened in Russia
that by the way is called
reinu which means additional regulations
that tighten surf obligations to their
Lords it happened often and in many
places monarchs would give noble
families greater power over ordinary
people's labor in exchange for the
Nobles giving greater service to the
Kingdom's military and administration
the strategy of power consolidation by
the way still happens the most most
powerful plate the less powerful by
giving them control over the least
powerful the great elector grandson King
Frederick William the first made the
Prussian Army the most modern in Europe
he created a branch of government called
the general directory that oversaw the
operation of the Kingdom to the benefit
of the army raising taxes and recruiting
administrators and soldiers and
Frederick William I first sought a
certain kind of recruit specifically
giant soldiers at least 6 feet in height
from all across Europe he saw sold off
his father's more luxurious possessions
such as silver and works of art to boost
military strength even more Prussia was
called a large army with a small state
attached kind of like Russia today he's
back isn't he he's just he's very subtle
but I can I can feel his presence one of
the weirdnesses of building a state or
an Empire is that in order for it to
work you must convince both those
outside of your borders and those within
them that your state is really real and
also really powerful states do this
partly through treaties partly through
State Building exercises like national
anthems and National histories and
partly by building structures within the
state armies government apparatuses
Statewide laws that strengthen the state
and make it less vulnerable to attack
and the rising monarchies of Russia and
Prussia were very effective at State
Building which would allow them to shape
the future of Europe as a whole and also
Aid in the final demise of Poland
Lithuania over the 18th century Poland
Lithuania failed in part because its
constitutional system failed the
nobility wield and deal instead of
fortifying government institutions like
Russia and Prussia had and because of
the ways Prussia and Russia organized
political power that wasn't as much of a
problem In Their Kingdoms there were
problems of course which would
eventually prove catastrophic and we'll
get there eventually but first things
are about to get a bit brighter around
here because next time we get to turn
our ATT attention to the enlightenment
thanks for watching I'll see you then
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[Music]
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