01:510:102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: A Question Of Balance, Protestantism, Habsburg Monarchy
12 May 2018
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Chapter 18 - The Balance of power in 18th Century Europe
At the beginning of the 18th Century the map of Europe was remade by two
major treaties, the resulting shifts in boarders created serious shifts in power
throughout the continent…
Treaty of Utrecht 1713-1714, ended the War of Spanish Succession
• Austria: gained the Spanish Netherlands and Spanish territories in Italy
• France: gained territory in Alsace and Lorraine, while giving up colonial
possessions in the Americas
• England: gained France’s North American colonies, Gibraltar and
Island of Minorca (both from Spain), Spanish trade routes to the
Americas
Result: England gained vital commercial interests and Austria became a
major empire in central Europe
Treaty of Nystad 1721, ended the Great Northern War b/w Russia and
Sweden over Finland and Baltic territories
• Russia: gained territory in the Baltic region and built St. Petersburg
• Sweden: lost land in Finland, the Baltic states and Northern Germany
Results: Sweden fell from power, Russia and Prussia were on the rise, while
Poland held on to a precarious position as they became challenged by
Prussia, Russia and the Ottoman Empire
Rise of Russia
Russia became an established power with the victory over Sweden in the
Great Northern War under the leadership of Peter the Great
Who were the Russians?
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• Orthodox Christians: Tsar had a religious obligation to promote
Christianity
• Loose confederation of various peoples: Mongols, Ottomans, Tartars,
Cossacks, Muscovites
1. Sharp contrast to most other European states which were
homogenous
Peter the Great
Overview: “Opened Russia to Europe and Europe to Russia”
• Reforms were created around the desire to become a great military
power
1. Establishment of embassies in Western Europe and two personal visits
2. Recruited Western Europeans to advance Russian Army, Navy and
statecraft
3. Poll Tax 1724: Shift tax burden on to the individual, increased the govt.
ability to collect taxes (support the army)
4. Census: gave govt. more power to collect taxes
5. Conscription: both peasants and gentry to create a standing army of
over 330,000
• Meant life service, better trained military
1. Senate: Group of nine senior military leaders to facilitate management
of the Army
• Procurator-General oversaw the Senate
1. Fiscals (500): began as tax collectors developed into a national policing
agency
2. Table of Ranks: an official hierarchy of the state, established an
individuals position
• 3 Categories (Military, Civil and Land Owning), each with 14 steps
• Enter at the bottom rank and rise through experience and merit
Impact:
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• Advancement was tied to achievement
• Peter elevated Military category over the Landed Aristocracy to
centralize the government allowing new groups to enter the Russian
Elite.
• Created a new class of Russian Nobility to serve in the military (just
when everyone else was trying to get rid of theirs)
• Educational Reform: instituted educational reform to support the
military and embraced liberal education
• Jump started manufacturing industries: Textiles, glass, leather, iron and
copper
1. by 1726 Russia led all nations in production of iron and copper
Results:
• Russia developed one of the most powerful armies and navies in all of
Europe
• Russian society was fundamentally changed at the top, which led to
conflict b/w Peter and the Aristocracy
• Life changed little for the peasantry
Russian Rural Life:
• 97% of the Russian people were connected to agriculture for a living
• Quality of the land was poor for agriculture
• Peasants became considered property as of 1649 (serfs)
• Most land owners were small and poor, measured wealth by the
numbers of serfs
• Many serfs sought better conditions by moving to state sponsored lands
and projects.
Catherine the Great
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Document Summary
Chapter 18 - the balance of power in 18th century europe. At the beginning of the 18th century the map of europe was remade by two major treaties, the resulting shifts in boarders created serious shifts in power throughout the continent . Island of minorca (both from spain), spanish trade routes to the. Result: england gained vital commercial interests and austria became a major empire in central europe. Treaty of nystad 1721, ended the great northern war b/w russia and. Sweden over finland and baltic territories: russia: gained territory in the baltic region and built st. petersburg, sweden: lost land in finland, the baltic states and northern germany. Results: sweden fell from power, russia and prussia were on the rise, while. Poland held on to a precarious position as they became challenged by. Russia became an established power with the victory over sweden in the. Great northern war under the leadership of peter the great.
