HIST 2509 A History of Germany

Lecture 5-1

The Rise of Prussia

Announcements

1) in-class test on Tuesday

- more in second half of lecture-format, how to study, possible questions

2) I’ve streamlined the lecture skeletons

Prussian coat of arms

“Heil Preussen!” by Karl Arnold in Simplicissimus, 1932

Prussian coat of arms

Prussian coat of arms

Berlin Stadtschloss, 1950

I. The Age of Crisis (1560-1700)

a) social, political, religious fragmentation

-religious division permanent

-political decentralization and power of local princes

-search for order and harmony

-new forms of allegiances -- absolutism

From the House of Askanien to Hohenzollern

-the Duchy of Prussia, surrounded by Poland-Cleve-Mark, subject to Dutch pressure-Mark Brandenburg, close to Swedish Pommerania

II. The Emergence of Prussia

a) the Hohenzollern dynasty-Brandenburg, the Junkers=aristocratic land-holding

elites

b) territory-the Duchy of Prussia, surrounded by Poland-Cleve-Mark, subject to Dutch pressure-Mark Brandenburg, close to Swedish Pommerania*patchwork, artificial creation

III. Friedrich Wilhelm, the Great Elector (r. 1640-1688)

a) sustained the state

1) no natural boundaries

2) surrounded by power hungry neighbours

3) scattered geography

b) Consolidated power at home

-emasculated the nobles

-built infrastructure

-supported the economy

-imported middle class -- Hugenots in Potsdam

c) Created mystique of rule -- absolute monarchy

IV. King Friedrich Wilhelm I (r. 1713-1740)

-pietism

-civil service and state bureaucracy, cameralism

-army

-rigid social order, letters between FWI and Prince Friedrich

V. Der alte Fritz (Old Fritz)Frederick the Great(r. 1740-1786)

-mix of militarism, authoritarianism, and enlightenment

Sanssouci PalacePotsdam

The Prussian Versailles

Recap

1) Prussia emerges as the one to watch in the 18th century

2) It does so via centralizing authority of the sovereign

Recap

3) This is accomplished via absolutist rule with a tinge of enlightened thinking.

4) It represents the modernization of rule -- statecraft, loyalty, institutions of governance.

5) Inherently militaristic??

Test:

2 sections: 1 1/2 hours

-IDs: identify and give significance of terms and selections from readings

-essay: choice 1 of 3

Ways to do well:

-do the readings, re-read lecture skeletons/notes

-ensure you have answered the question --why? --and not just --what?-- for IDs

-cite precise examples from the readings/lectures to support your claims

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**and, most importantly, in the essaymake an argument/have a thesis!

“I will argue that the lack of territorial boundaries, religious differences, and political decentralization delayed Germany’s emergence as a major European power.”