CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

DIFFERENT PATTERNS OF DEVELOPMENT

Remain largely agrarian & retain serfdom

Low level of urbanization & industrialization

Limited development of merchant class

No overseas empires

Families remains large, extended, & multigenerational, age of marriage lower

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

POLAND

14th century: Dynastic alliance with Lithuania

Poland becomes superior partner = Republic of Poland

Becomes one of largest, most powerful states in Europe

Polish Queen Jadwiga weds Lithuanian Grand Duke Jageillo, unifying in 1385

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

POLAND

Structure of Society

Made up of estates – nobility, burghers (townspeople), peasants

Nobility (Szlachta) = 8% of population, had all rights & privileges

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

POLAND

Structure of State

Monarch elected by parliament (Sejm)

Each deputy had veto power = LIBERUM VETO

King had no national army, court system or bureaucracy

Led to political chaos & weakness

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

OTTOMAN EMPIRE

Muslim Turks controlled large area of Christian Eastern Europe from 15th c.

Became great power, but began to decline in 18th c.

But did not interfere with religious or cultural life

Significant impact on development of lands it held

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

OTTOMAN EMPIRE

Structure of Society

Divided subjects into MILLETS based on religion

Practiced relative toleration

Muslims = privileged class

Christians subject to DEVSHIRME

Much resentment of Ottoman rule

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

OTTOMAN EMPIRE

Structure of State

Similar to feudal system

• Military leaders gave service to SULTAN

• Muslims = lords Christians = peasants

• Local rulers (Pashas) had virtually complete control

Began to decline in 17th century

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

AUSTRIA

Consolidation of State

LEOPOLD I (r. 1657-1705)

• Established religious conformity

• Defeated Ottomans & gained Hungarian lands

• Expanded into Balkans, Italy, & Netherlands

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

PRUSSIA

Consolidation of State

Brandenburg unified with Prussia & began to expand

GREAT ELECTOR – Frederick William (r. 1640-1688)

• began build up of army

• centralization of power at expense of JUNKERS

CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

PRUSSIA

Consolidation of State

FREDERICK I (r. 1688-1713)

• named king in return for supplying troops to Habsburgs

• continued building army & centralizing

• army = centerpiece of Prussia state & society