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Central Europe in the Age of Absolutism. Austria and Prussia. 18 th Century Austria. Ruled by Habsburg dynasty A part of the Holy Roman Empire Weakened by 30 Years’ War. Maria Theresa. 1740 – Charles VI dies Daughter (Maria Theresa) only heir Pragmatic Sanction
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Central Europe in the Age of Absolutism Austria and Prussia
18th Century Austria • Ruled by Habsburg dynasty • A part of the Holy Roman Empire • Weakened by 30 Years’ War
Maria Theresa • 1740 – Charles VI dies • Daughter (Maria Theresa) only heir • Pragmatic Sanction • Allows her to rule Habsburg lands • 1745 – Becomes Holy Roman Empress
Holy Roman Empire • Belgians • Bohemians • Germans • Croatians • Romanians • Serbs • Slovenes • Hungarians • Italians • Poles
Holy Roman EmpireThe Holy Roman Empire is neither HOLY, nor ROMAN, nor an EMPIRE -----Voltaire
Holy Roman Empire: Problems • Ethnically diverse • Culturally diverse • Religiously diverse • Geographically BIG • Effect: Extremely difficult to rule
Hohenzollerns Dynasty that ruled Brandenburg-Prussia • Came to power in 1415 • Protestant • Confiscated lands owned by Catholic Church • By 1648, rule much of Germany
The Great Elector • Frederick William • Hohenzollern • Ruled 1640-1688 • Prussia • Unified armies • Improved tax system • Improved transportation system • Encouraged industry
Frederick II – “The Great” • Ruled 1740-1786 • “Prussia is not a country with a military but a military with a country” - Voltaire • Expanded territory • Militaristic
PRUSSIA • 1870 unifies to become Germany • Otto von Bismarck • “Blood and Iron” • Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, Nationalism • Key factors WWI
Seven Years’ War • 1756-1763 • Involves most of Europe • On European continent • & North American continent • North America: French and Indian War • Great Britain leading European Power
WWI • HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE gives way • Unified Germany • Austria-Hungary • Multi-Ehtnic • Nationalist groups struggling for independence will contribute to underlying causes of WWI • 1914-1918