Absolutiism Dbq

Absolutiism Dbq
During 1650–1750, a new political system known as absolutism emerged and became popular
amongst many countries in central and Eastern Europe. Absolutism is a political system in which a
divine–right monarch enjoys absolute power over all affairs of state. Supposedly, the "divine–right
monarch" receives his power directly from God, meaning that he is only responsible to God and that
no one can question his authority. In the 1600's, taxes and famine began to rise in many European
states, which resulted in dangerous and uncontrolled riots. Many countries began to adopt
absolutism as a political system that could be a solution to these issues. As absolutism became a
solution to these issues and gained popularity in France, Prussia, and Russia, ... Show more content
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The first of these tsars, Ivan III, also known as "Ivan the Great", defied Mongol control and declared
the autonomy of Moscow. Ivan III was soon followed by Ivan IV, also known as "Ivan the Terrible",
who declared his power by pushing aside his advisors, crowning himself tsar and crushing boyars,
who were Russian nobles. At first, Ivan's reign was successful as he added vast new territories to the
Russian empire. Later, after his wife's death, Ivan's power and prosperity declined because he started
persecuting those whom he believed opposed him. This resulted in the execution of many nobles
and their families, friends, servants and peasants, in which he replaced with a new service nobility,
whose loyalty was "guaranteed by their dependent on the state for land and titles." [1] Ivan the
Terrible nor Ivan III were never absolute rulers– their ways of ruling just helped lay the foundation
for Russian absolutism. After Ivan IV and his successor died, Russia entered a "Time of Troubles",
which lasted from 1598–1613, in which the peasant warrior bands known as Cossacks, rebelled
against their nobles who fought back and defeated the Cossacks. Ivan's grand–nephew, Michael
Romanov, was soon elected by the Zensky Sober– a body of nobles, and placed efforts toward state–
building. He was succeeded by "Peter the Great", the Russian king that truly consolidated Russian
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Hohenzollern Research Paper
Although the history of the House of Hohenzollen dates back to the 11th century, I am more
intrigued with the more modern 1800's and the rulers of that era. My paper is based on this and
includes two people whom I think were the most effective leaders within the royal family. The house
of Hohenzollern is said to be a noble family and royal dynasty of prince–electors, kings and
emperors of Prussia, Germany, and Romania. Its origin is based from an area around the town of
Hechingen in Swabia during the eleventh century. The name was taken from their ancestral home
(the Burg Hohenzollern Castle). The family split into two groups, the Catholic Swabian branch and
the Protestant Franconian branch. Hechingen was ruled by the Swabian branch until their extinction
in 1869. The Franconian branch was comparatively more successful. Branches within the
Franconian branch ascended the throne of Margravate of Brandenburg in 1415 and of the Duchy of
Prussia in 1525. The union of these two Franconian branches, in 1618, allowed the creation of the
Kingdom of Prussia in 1701, the state which led the unification of Germany and the creation of the
German Empire in 1871. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It takes its name from a castle in Swabia first mentioned as Zolorin or Zolre (the modern
Hohenzollern, south of Tübingen, in the Land Baden–Württemberg). In 1870 William I was King of
Prussia. Brother of preceding Prussia, annexed further territories as a result of the Second War of
Schleswig in 1864 and the Austro–Prussian War of 1866, and became the dominant power in the
North German Confederation. Following victory in the Franco–Prussian War, William I was
proclaimed German Emperor in 1871, while retaining the title and powers of King of Prussia. His
only son Frederick William was crowned

How Did Enlightened Absolutism In The 18th Century
Most European states in the 18th century were ruled by monarchs, a divine right to rule was still
pretty big, but secularism grew. Enlightenment beliefs were also still at large – natural laws was the
belief in natural rights, inalterable privileges that ought not to be withheld from any person.
Enlightened absolutism was a new type of monarchy that emerged in late 18th century and
monarchs such as Frederick II of Prussia, Catherine the Great of Russia, and Joseph II of Austria
ruled by it. Of the five major European states, three were located in central and eastern Europe and
came to play an increasingly important role in European international politics. Prussia had two able
prussian kings in the 18th century, Frederick William I and Frederick II, further developed the two
institutions– the army and the bureaucracy– that were the backbone of Prussia. Frederick II, known
as the Great (1740–1786), was one of the best educated and most cultured monarchs of the 18th
century, well versed in the enlightenment, and for a time, Frederick seemed quite willing to follow
the philosophes' recommendations for reform; he established a single code of laws for his territories
that eliminated the use of torture except in treason and murder cases, also granting limited freedom
of speech and other freedoms. The Austrian Empire ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Family structure was still very patriarchal. Jobs for wet nurses were popular for upper class families
who didn't want to feed their kids themselves. Primogeniture was the process in which the eldest son
received all or most of their parents belongings (mostly property) and was treated as a favorite.
Infanticide was killing your own baby. People did it a lot less but it still happened way too much,
some resorting to adoption

Essay Ap Euro Dbq Absolutism
After the European expansion to the American continent at the end of the fifteenth century, many
monarchs began to become absolute rulers. In between the late sixteenth and early seventeenth
centuries, absolute powers began a rise in mainly Western Europe; while Eastern Europe
experienced absolutism in the mid eighteenth century. But during the absolute monarchs rise to
power, the population of each sovereign state had an abundance of diverse attitudes towards
sovereignty. These diverse opinions arose for acknowledgement of different urgencies for an
absolute monarch to attend to; these groups were sovereign monarchs, peasants, and nobility. One of
the main views that dominated the growth of absolute power was the monarch's. The monarch's ...
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Most aristocrats during the age of absolutism decided that the absolute monarch must conspire with
the nobility to establish righteous inequality for the privileged; which most aristocrats accomplished.
For example, the aristocrats within Austria were able to convince Joseph II, the Holy Roman
Emperor, to allow inequitable influence for just the nobility within the government.This is evident in
the letter that the the Holy Roman Emperor had sent to Leopold of Tuscany that nationalism and a
monarch's well– being is in the hands of the nobility(Doc 2). This shows that the nobility within
Austria at the time already influenced the monarch to attend to the nobility before any of the other
population within the empire. Since the emperor states that he appreciates the presence of the higher
class, which shows that the emperor's position of a sovereign monarch should be with the nobility.
Even though the Emperor did not fulfill the efforts of an equal ruler, he allowed the serfs freedom in
1781 that led to the miserable lives of serfs. With the removal of serfdom that was re–established in
1790, Joseph II was highly influenced by the requirements of the nobility's ideal absolutist ruler. But
in France from 1643 to 1715 much of the French nobility disliked the absolute rule King Louis XIV
held; which excluded the nobility from many key features of the

The First Coalition At The Battle Of Waterloo
On June 18, 1815 , Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated by the Sixth Coalition at the Battle of
Waterloo.
The Sixth Coalition consisted of the United Kingdom, Austria, Russia and Prussia, who were
recognized as the "Great Powers."
They created the Concert of Europe, a system that was designed to create a balance of power
between its members, contain France following years of war, and to prevent the rise of another
future tyrant such as Napoleon.
On June 8, 1815, the German Confederation was created by the Congress of Vienna.
This confederation consisted of a loose union of thirty–nine German states.
Its purpose was to guarantee peace for all German states, replace the Holy Roman Empire, and to
sustain the independence of the member ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This created restrictions which allowed states to ban communities, censor material and thus, stop the
spread of nationalism.
In 1834, the Zollverein, a coalition of all German states, with the exception of the Austrian Empire,
was formed.
It was formed to managed tariffs and economic policies within the German states. It established a
free–trade policy throughout Germany.
It was primarily controlled by Prussia and strengthened Prussia's economic and political power. It
also caused a rise in nationalism and encouraged unification.
From 1848 to 1849, a revolution took place in German member states of the German Confederation.
The cause of the revolution was focused on a unified Germany, with protestors showing discontent
regarding the large, sovereign autocratic states.
In March of 1848, a riot took place in Berlin. Prussian king Frederick Wilhelm IV, surprisingly,
granted the rioters parliamentary elections and granted the creation Prussian National Assembly
which would create a constitution.

On March 21, 1848, King Frederick Wilhelm IV issued a declaration to his people titled 'To My
People and to the German Nation.' He began to wear a German tricolour armband, which
symbolized his support of the revolution. In his declaration, it is quoted that "Prussia is henceforth
merged with Germany."
The March 1848 uprisings inspired a similar nationalist movement in other German

Prussia 's Influence On The World 's Foundational...
Prussia was a kingdom that existed nearly half a millennium ago as a patchwork of territorial
fragments, with no significant resources founded yet or a coherent culture. With its capital in Berlin,
"Prussia grew from being a small, poor, disregarded medieval state into one of the most vigorous
and powerful nations in Europe."1 Prussia 's involvement in the continent 's foundational religious
and political conflagrations. From the devastations of the Thirty Years War through centuries of
political machinations to the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire. From the enlightenment of
Frederick the Great to the destructive conquests of Napoleon. Then from the "Iron and Blood"
policies of Bismarck to the creation of the German Empire in 1871, and all that implied for the
tumultuous twentieth century.
Prussia's government was monarchical from the 1700s all the way to the Great War. During all that
time it increasingly valued a strong, formidable army, but was not so formidable when it met
Napoleon during the Coalition Wars. It put forth effort in training and spending much of its money
towards weapons and uniforms. The military technology and strategy of Prussia during 1860s and
1870s was outstanding. Especially with the mind of Otto von Bismarck (1815–1898) leading the
way against Denmark, and later Austria, and then with his sneaky tactics he used against France
before the Franco–Prussian war in 1870.
Prior to the unification in 1871, Germany was made up of thirty–nine

Rise of Prussia Essay example
Question:
Analyze the military, political, and social factors that account for the rise of Prussia between 1640
and 1786.
Bree Stanbrough
Due: March 3, 2011
Period 4
The rise of Prussia from 1640 to 1715 was mainly due to the great leadership of Frederick William
'the Elector', Frederick William I and Frederick the Great of Prussia. Many military, social, and
political factors led to the rise of Prussia also. The major factor that helped Prussia become a great
power was the growth of Prussia's new army and the territory they took because of this powerful
military. Most of the military factors that led to the rise of Prussia came from Fredrick William 'The
Elector'. He was the first leader in Prussia to create and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Many of the social factors that led to the rise of Prussia were made by Fredrick the Great. Some
even called him 'The Social Reformer'. He made life for Prussians easier by abolishing torture and
corporal punishment.[7] He established religious tolerance and freedom of speech by ending
censorship.[8] Fredrick resettled immigrants from Austria to establish weaving as a major Prussian
industry.[9] He proved himself as an enlightened ruler who reformed Prussia's agriculture, legal
system, industry and government for the better.[10] He added a diversity of skills to his country by
integrating religions into his countries everyday life such as, Jewish teachers, or Jesuit merchants
and bankers.[11] He also purposely set reasonable prices on grain so farmers and townspeople
wouldn't go hungry.[12] Frederick William I also helped socially unite Prussia by created a strong
centralized bureaucracy. This allowed commoners to rise to top positions in the civil government. So
now power rested with the hard working, not with the men who were born rich or with land. With
this change, there was no longer Parliamentary Estates. This socially reformed Prussia set the
foundation for a powerful Prussian empire. Prussian leaders wanted to establish royal absolutism.
[13] Most of the political reform was a change in who was in political positions of power. Frederick
William and Frederick

Frederick William The Great: The Soldier King
Was born on August 14. 1688 in Berlin, Germany. He was known as the Soldier king because of his
huge army. He increased it by 83,000 soldiers. He was married to Sophia Dorothea of Hanover.
They got married in 1706. She was his first cousin, and they had 14 children together, one of which
was Frederick William The Great, Who The Soldier King despised, because he liked to sing and
write poetry. He tried to run away but got caught. As punishment his dad ordered the people who
helped him escape to be beheaded and he made him watch. He ruled with absolutism. He was very
effective in governing Prussia. While he was in power the army reached a little bit over 80,000
troopers and ended up taking up 80% of the countries tax revenues. He remade the tax system so
that it had a more militaristic feel to it and so that ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The military also helped out in fixing up the country, they fixed and built new roads and waterways,
which helped them to move the military from one place to another much faster and not take up so
much time. He also allowed commoners to accomplish noble status in reward for excellent service,
but he kept their pay low but he still give them bonuses for their good work. Frederick William I had
to keep the system inline so he would travel around to make sure everything was being run the way
he had ordered. Sometimes Frederick William I would send out people called inspectors to do it for
him but he mostly did it himself. Frederick William I died in May on the 31 in 1749 in Berlin,
Germany. His coffin is currently in the Church of Peace in the palace grounds of Sanssouci. The real
coffin was destroyed in Burg Hohenzollern, because if was moved so may times that it collapsed so
not it's a copper copy. Hitler was the first one to order the removal of the coffin during World War

How Did Louis Xiv Create A Bureaucracy
Expanding bureaucracy and reducing the power of the noble class was a massive factor in gaining
absolutist control and centralizing state power; therefore, it was utilized by many absolute rulers.
While Cardinal Richelieu was ruling for the young Louis XIV, he extended the use of the intendant
system, the intendants were commissioners for France's thirty–two districts. These officials were
appointed by the king and directly responsible to him, thus increasing the monarchy's direct hold
over the districts, rather than leaving the nobles in charge. In addition, the intendants were required
to check up on local nobility, which would further diminish noble authority. Once Louis XIV was
officially in power, he refused to call the Estates General, which was essentially ruled by the
nobility, to give himself sole political decision making authority. Next, he established the Palace of
Versailles. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He was simultaneously worshiped and able to gain the nobles cooperation through this. Similarly, in
Russia, Ivan III, the first real king of Russia, ended Mongol power and created a new service of
nobles which were also dependent on the state. Peter the Great then proceeded to westernize Russia
through his absolutist power. He built the city of St. Petersburg, where like Versailles, nobles were
required to say. Peter also established a bureaucracy which was military and civilian. Overall, both
absolutist rulers in France and Russia had similar political practices, like creating a grandiose
environment where nobles had to stay, and developing a governmental system which gave all power
to the

The Pros And Cons Of Nationalism In The 19th Century
Nationalism is a sense of loyalty to one's nation. Nationalism has the power to unify or
divide a whole country, and did so to numerous countries in Europe. The idea of nationalism had
not become known until the 19th century, because in the 19th century modern transportation was
used more commonly and people of different cultures came in correspondence with each other
more frequently. Nationalism appeared in places with a strong central government such as The
Roman Empire and the dynasties in China. However, it first emerged in Europe because Europe
industrialized first and The French Revolution caused a great sense of nationality under the rule
of Napoleon. Although, nationalism did come with its pro's and con's. The concept ... Show more
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Peter Stolypin improved education, initiated moderate
land reforms for the peasant farmers, and made many other reforms. The Russian citizen's needs
were still not met so in return, Stolypin was assassinated. The Duma now only had limited
power. Russia was still autocracy until 1914 and little to few changes were made by attempts to
reform due to a lack of nationalism in the country.
In conclusion, nationalism is a key factor for a nation to come together. Nationalism in
Germany and Italy allowed for them to become unified states. However, Russia was not able to
become a unified state because its leaders never satisfied the needs of the Russian citizens, didn't
industrialize as quickly as the other states, and never gave the people of Russia a reason to have
pride in their country. The leaders of Russia made the mistake of ignoring the power of

nationalism. In Russia, Germany, and Italy you can truly see the effects of having or not having

The Unification of Germany
THE UNIFICATION OF GERMANY In 1871 the thirty–eight states of what was once the Holy
Roman Empire, re–united to become what was known in the early twentieth century as simply, The
German Empire, united under the rule of the German Emperor, or Kaiser. There are many factors
which led to the unification of the German states; liberalism, nationalism, Otto Von Bismarck, fear
of ‘another Napoleon', the Prussian King William I, and the three wars Prussia fought. One of the
key factors which led to the Unification was nationalism. Nationalism is the idea that certain things
such as race, culture, religion, language or territory set them apart from those around them, and they
could identify their interests with a group of people not just a ... Show more content on
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At this point William was 70 years of age and had been an army officer since 17. When William
attempted to introduce army reforms that would double army size, increase the period of service and
remove the Landwehr (citizen militia). The Prussian parliament would not pass this bill as it would
give the ‘Junker' class (aristocracy) more power. As William tried alternative means of obtaining
his reforms, there was constitutional crisis as the liberals would not support the King's bill and he
had sworn to uphold the constitution and as such refrained from using force on the liberals, and even
considered abdication. Instead he appointed Otto Von Bismarck as his new Chief Minister in
September of 1862. This proved to be an excellent decision on William's part as it resulted in the
implication of his reforms and the Unification of the German states under his rule.
Otto Von Bismarck, the man who really set the ball rolling, and ensured it landed in the right hole, is
one of the main reasons Germany was unified. He was the Prussian foreign minister and although
his actual reason for wanting to unify Germany was to increase the power of Prussia, still he was the
main reason for why Germany was united under the rule of the Kaiser. When Bismarck was brought
into office in September 1862 he resolved the constitutional crisis in Prussia by simply ignoring
Parliament. He ordered the

Characteristics Of Frederick The Great
The Enlightenment is a period of time located across the world, mainly in Europe, that directly
followed the Scientific Revolution. It has been considered an intellectual movement which has
advocated for freedom, democracy, and reason. Many have also considered this time as the
organized activity of French philosophers or also known as the philosophes, who were considered an
informal society men of letters that contributed to the Encyclopedie. The Enlightenment affected the
European population as well with more rights being given to the common people, more people
becoming literate, decline in the church, and new formations of religions. One of these philosophies
is Frederick the Great, King of Prussia. Frederick was an active follower of the Enlightenment and
tried to change Prussia into an Enlightened state through some of these characteristics.
Frederick the Great was ruler of Prussia from 1740–1786. He took over from his father, Frederick
William I, who was considered to be coward and rarely got into wars. Frederick's term was during
the Enlightenment, and like other rulers, Catherine the Great, Maria Theresa, and her son, Joseph,
were all "enlightened" by the age and followed it. In the case of Frederick, he turned his court into a
learning of the nobility to help out. He believed that the French learning was the only main learning
that people should know, and used French influence in his castle and gardens. He was good friends
with other philosophies such as Voltaire

Disadvantages Of Enlightened Despotism
Some of the traits most associated with enlightened despotism include many types of reforms
inspired by the Enlightenment made by absolute monarchs, these reforms were of social, economic,
legal, and educational, and religious tolerance. These reforms did not allow for the question of their
central power, or of the accepted social class order. I believe this form of government to an extent
could work with today's political climate, as it has been going. Although, rule, entirely of the
monarch, would eventually fall, and absolute power would bring mostly disadvantages. Religious
toleration is something that is needed within all societies, as it should be a promise never to change,
because without toleration of religion, any type of war is able ... Show more content on
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The impact that Frederick II's reign had on the geo–political organization of Western and Eastern
Europe was his foreign policy. This is where Prussia gained this province of the West, where the
isolation of East Prussia happened by linking with monarchical states. This had made the kingdom
more capable of defense and within its territory, Prussia was more predominantly to the East, and
had also made the dividing social and political differences sharpen with that of the other states of
Western Europe.Russia's czarist government in one way, helped protect the rights of nobles and
peasants in the Table of Ranks. This table let all men have the ability to serve the state, and had to
longer allow Russia's military to rely on heredity positions. This gave larger privileges to those who
placed higher in the ranks, which can be compared with England's parliamentary democracy of the
protection of their rights, though in order of their services they had committed.This quote follows
how King Louis XIV "territorial ambition" did not suit him in the future as it would the

House Of Commons
Identify – explain the types of people in the House of Commons and House of Lords. During the
18th century much of Britain Parliament was dominated by aristocracy, and was divided into two
major groups within the political system; House of Lords and House of Commons. "The peers, who
sat for life the House of Lords, and the landed gentry, who sat in the House of Commons and served
as justices of the peace in the counties". Despite the two different Houses, they both targeted similar
economic interests because of this, they were difficult to distinguish, they were also frequently
intermarried. This British System allowed for a frequent rate of patronage, the House of Commons
was elected by boroughs and counties, which easily allowed the King ... Show more content on
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During the growth of Prussia, the nobles fulfilled a dominant role in the Prussian state. They were
known as Junkers, these Junkers had complete control over the office corps of the Prussian Army.
Despite the dominance of these Junkers, Frederick William still attempted to enlarge the size of the
army. At the end of his reign, the army grew almost two times in size, and ranked itself the fourth
largest army in European states despite the fact that the population wasn't too large. It maintained its'
reputation of the strongest military in Europe at the time 5.) Note three reforms of Frederick the
Great and one setback policy for the peasants. For background information, Frederick the Great was
known as Frederick II. He was greatly influenced by the Enlightenment era and invited Voltaire to
live at his court for several years. Greatly influenced by the philosophes' recommendations for
reform, he established laws that discontinued the use of torture with an exception of treason and
murder. Greatly inspired by natural laws, he also allowed religious toleration and limited freedom of
speech and press. The third reform was of the Prussian society, he made it more aristocratic. He
reversed his father's policy and reserved the higher positions in the bureaucracy for aristocrats. This
didn't allow the peasants to fulfill roles in

Essay on The Most Effective Absolute Rulers
The Most Effective Absolute Rulers During the late 1400s and 1500s, many rulers took great
measures to centralize political power and place it in their own hands. This lead to the occurrence of
absolute monarchies, some of which I thought were overall very effective. In absolute monarchies,
theoretically the monarch is all–powerful, with no legal limitations to his or her authority.
Absolutism in Europe was characteristically justified by the doctrine of divine right, according to
which the monarch reigns all–powerfully by the will of God. The intention of absolute monarchs is
to utilize his or her power in an effective, better–organized way, despite its weaknesses or negative
consequences; and from my perspective, I would have to say ... Show more content on
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He also increased the size of the army, gave soldiers better training and introduced new weapons to
military. I personally think that the life of Louis XIV had its many ups and downs, but over all he
was a very good man and effective ruler. If it were not for Louis XIV, France would be a very
different place today. I'm surprised he is responsible for many elegant buildings in France and
especially Paris. Despite all the wrong things he did that hurt his nation, I think it could have
probably gotten worse if he had not come along. Even today it interests me that Louis's armies, that
were opposed by an alliance of the European powers, lost most of their major battles, but won
control of Spain.
For my part, Frederick the Great – a great general as well as a skilled absolute monarch – was one
of the most effective absolute monarchs of his time. I think he was an effective absolute monarch
because of his contribution to the small but militarily powerful German state of Prussia in becoming
an absolute monarchy. The rise of Prussia between 1600s and 1700s occurred as a result of a
combination of military, political, and social factors lead by Frederick's contribution. I chose
Frederick II as a great effective absolute monarch based on his actions that affected his people. He
did many great things for the significance of his absolute monarchy. Frederick II of Prussia made
reforms and changes that were ideas of the Enlightenment. He wanted to further his country and

Why Is Frederick The Great Effective
Frederick II or Frederick the Great was a monarch of Prussia that reigned from 1740 to 1786.
Another monarch which reigned during Frederick the Great's reign was Maria Theresa, of the
Hapsburg family, who reigned from 1740 to 1780 over Austria. She came into power because her
father, Charles VI, created a document called the Pragmatic Sanction. The Pragmatic Sanction is a
document that other monarchs signed to allow Maria Theresa to inherit the Hapsburg land. However
after Charles died, not all the countries agreed with the Pragmatic Sanction. This lead to conflict
between Prussia and Austria. Because of this conflict, historians debate which ruler was more
effective and powerful. Frederick the Great is a more effective and powerful ruler because he won
several wars against Austria, he had a stronger alliance with Russia, improved Prussia's domestic
affairs, and succeeded in foreign affairs. Some consider Maria Theresa worthy of the title and even a
more effective and powerful ruler than Frederick II because of her achievements in the arts and
architecture. Maria Theresa ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Frederick the Great exhibited his greatness as a ruler by winning all 3 of the Silesian Wars and the
Seven Years' War against Austria. He improved domestic affairs by making Prussia a world power
by increasing their rankings, and by strengthening the arts and literature. Frederick the Great also
succeeded in foreign affairs by creating the German League of Princes and forced the Holy Roman
Empire to abandon all ideas of acquiring Bavaria. Historians can debate otherwise but Frederick II is
truly deserving of his title of "the great." His entire reign justifies and proves he is in fact Frederick
the

Within the Context of Germany 1789 – 1890 How Important a...
On 23 September 1862, Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck was appointed Minister–President and
Foreign Minister of Prussia . Within nine years a new German nation state was created by the
unification of the numerous independent German–speaking states in central Europe. The creation of
Germany as a cohesive political and integrated country occurred on 18 January 1871 at the palace of
Versailles in France. Following the military defeat of France by Prussia in the Franco/Prussian war,
(July 1870 to January 1871), the leaders of the existing Germanic states attended a ceremony there
to proclaim Wilhelm I of Prussia as Emperor Wilhelm of the German Empire .
Otto von Bismarck is widely recognized as the statesman who engineered the unification ... Show
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Hienrich Heien stated that the defiance to Napoleon displayed by ordinary Germans was based upon
a duty of obedience to the ruling aristocracy . Walley comments that this fails to recognise the
strength of anti French feelings at the time . Both these points are valid, however an undercurrent of
German nationalistic feeling did start to flow following the Congress of Vienna in the same year that
Bismarck was born. It is reasonable to assume that this developing Germanic nationalism would
have had an effect on Bismarck as he grew from boy to man. If so it may be argued that his role in
the unifying of Germany was that of a director, moulding the concept of a new country already
forming in the minds of the people, into a formidable independent nation state. In 1818 an economic
customs union (Zollverein) was founded within Prussian territories which facilitated a single system
of tariffs for the movement of goods around Prussia. By 1834 it included nearly all German
speaking states except Austria . This economic exclusion of Austria fueled the Austro–Prussian
rivalry for dominance in German affairs. By 1868 the Zollverein was Prussian dominated and had
produced economic agreements with non–German states like Sweden and Luxembourg as well. The
real political and economic beneficiary of the Zollverein was Prussia. Economic

Otto Von Bismarck As An Opportunist
Historians to this day debate about whether Otto Von Bismarck was an opportunist or planner during
the time of German unification. This topic of whether he was a planner or opportunist is quite
unusual and can have two sides with solid arguments. Bismarck was a man first with a vision of
bringing more power to Prussia but soon changed to bringing Germany up and uniting all of the
German states. Many believed in him as a visionary who was a key part in uniting Germany and
after keeping the peace in Europe which didn't turn out so well later on.
Throughout the timeline of unification in Germany, Otto Von Bismarck never had a detailed plan on
the unification of Germany. Instead he took advantage of opportunities that presented themselves
like triggering wars throughout European nations as an example. He was only in control of events to
an extent, Bismarck never had a fully thought out plan from the beginning of his career. Many
opportunities that presented themselves to Bismarck included the luck he had with the Ems telegram
among other things. Bismarck seemed to work endlessly on tasks but it turned out as though faith
and luck constructed the Germany people know today.
Bismarck was wise when it came to manipulation. With his tactics of manipulation it brought a great
deal of power and influence for "Germany" and Bismarck himself. For instance one thing Bismarck
did was he made an alliance with Italy, promising to resist Austria together and help Italy
completely unite. The

Why Is Frederick The Great An Enlightened Despot
Frederick the Great: Enlightened Despot
Frederick II was an enlightened ruler of Prussia. The enlightenment was a period of time in which
the government ran by an absolute ruler. Rulers made significant changes that affected religious,
social, educational, and legal reforms. Frederick II was the son of King Frederick William I who had
ruled over Germany. He would later become a king himself. He became king in 1740 and ruled for
over forty years. It was he who drastically changed Prussia into a powerful force. Frederick II would
become to be known by Frederick the Great based on the many positive things he did during his
rule. Two of the biggest achievements, he was able to make was his military skill and religious
tolerance. Since almost everyone liked him, he was able to institute reforms in his country. His
enlightenment rule would bring major efforts for both reform and war. ... Show more content on
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As a child of wealth and royalty he had grown up with the best upbringing for his childhood. He was
a very talented musician for this time. Frederick was also a musician that had composed some of his
own sonatas and symphonies. Adding to his smart abilities, he also knew over five languages and
spoke them frequently. Also during his tenure as king he had world famous buildings built in Berlin.
The most famous that people visit today is the Berlin Opera House. Education reforms were a very
big priority for him. Since he had a strong foundation of learning, it was necessary only for him to
establish Prussia as one of the best education systems in Europe. His cultured knowledge allowed
him to be more of an open person and a free thinker. This benefited him mightily because he was
open to more ideas, making him an enlightened

History Of The Beginnings Of A Successful Ruler: Maria...
The Beginnings of a Successful Ruler
In 1729, Charles Lewis wrote in a letter to his friend, a description of the young Maria Theresa. He
wrote, "The eldest Archduchess Maria Theresa is brought up in the agreeable prospect of the vast
dominions possessed by the Emperor. This young Princess has very much of the Air of the Empress
her mother and if Heaven designs her for the Sovereignty of the Empire, God grant she may also
resemble in her Virtues!" Maria Theresa would in fact go on to become the only female ruler of the
Habsburg dominions, coming into power through succession. According to the New World
Encyclopedia, Maria Theresa's titles from birth to death were, "Her Royal Highness Archduchess
Maria Theresa of Austria (May 13, 1717 – October 20, 1740), Her Majesty The Queen of Hungary
and Bohemia (October 20, 1740 – September 13, 1745), Her Imperial Majesty The Holy Roman ...
Though there were a few causes of the Seven Years' War, like the long–time power struggle between
France and England and the French and Indian war technically already beginning in 1754, what
more or less sent the war into action was another issue between Frederick the Great and Maria
Theresa. In 1756 Frederick II invaded Saxony, and it was no surprise that he was once again trying
to take something that in fact, did not belong to him. Maria Theresa, on the other hand, was still
bitter about losing Silesia to Prussia, and she saw the war as a way to possibly retake Silesia. She
can't really be blamed for wanting to take back what was originally apart of the Habsburg dominions
and that which she felt had been unfairly taken away. Unfortunately for her, Silesia was not
recovered and France lost the war with many repercussions, while Austria got more of a slap on the

The Unification Of Germany And Italy
The unification of Germany and Italy was centered around the belief of nationalism. Nationalism is
the belief that one's greatest loyalty should not be to a king or an empire but to a nation of people
who share a common culture and history. The nation will then become a nation–state when it has its
independent government. Bonds that will create a nation state are nationality, language, culture, and
religion. Germany and Italy both went to drastic measures to unify their countries In 1815, Italy as
divides after the Congress of Vienna. Some provinces were still under Austrian rule such as Venetia
and Lombardy. The Spanish Bourbon family ruled the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies while the Pope
controlled the Papal States. Seeing the separation of states, Mazzini, Garibaldi, and Cavour made
advancements towards unifying the country. Mazzini formed a nationalist group called Young Italy.
He called for an end to foreign rule and the unification of Italy based on the common language and
culture of the people. This movement was called the risorgimento. This plan failed and the former
rules of Italian states drove Mazzini and other nationalist leaders into exile. Next came Garibaldi
who was the leader of the Red Shirts. They were volunteers who followed Garibaldi in Southern
Italy. This nationalist group was successful in gaining control of Sicily in 1860. He then crossed into
the mainland and marched north. After Garibaldi took complete control of Southern Italy, the people
voted to

Seven Years War Research Paper
While studying the Seven Years war, I learned about the difficulties people faced during that time,
and it was incredible to see how Europe was shaped from this event. Also knowing about the French
and Indian war that took place in the American colonies, it was interesting to know about the
backstory where it took place in Europe, and began in Prussia. The War was also known as the first
global conflict with two main fronts. The first front in Europe, and soon expands to America as the
war escalates. The Seven Years War had a huge impact on history with its leaders, causes, and the
events within itself had a huge effect on the people involved.
Some of the great leaders of the Seven Years War were Frederick II and King George III. The war ...
After George III withdrew all aid to Prussia, it seemed as if Prussia was doomed. The small country,
yet Frederick's valiant effort, were surrounded by enemies on all sides and were utterly defenseless.
When all else had failed, the death of another monarch would be a huge turning point in the war.
The Tsar of Russia died, and Tsar Peter III ascended to the throne, who was a great admirer of
Frederick. Peter quickly went to make peace with the Prussians and ended all Russian hostilities
towards them.
The war then moved decisively between Britain and Prussia. Frederick went and defeated the
Austrians at Burkersdorf and Reichenbach and regained all the territory that he had lost. Britain
captured Manila and Havana from Spain, and soon after restored peace with France with the Treaty
of Paris on February 10, 1763 (Rickard). Prussia had captured a small country called Silesia early in
the war, which was a wealthy trading center for lots of areas. Five days after the Treaty of Paris was
established, the Treaty of Hubertusburg was signed on February 15, 1763 and peace was found
between Austria, Prussia, and Saxony. The treaty confirmed Silesia as Prussian territory and the
Seven Years War in Europe was at a

Prussian Absolutism Essay
Absolutism; having absolute power over itself and others around. The country that showed a great
example of this is Prussia. Even though they went through hard times such as the Thirty Years' War,
which severely decreased the population, Prussians persisted to achieve absolutism. Prussia was
superior to England in achieving absolutism because military, government, and its religion were
major factors for absolutism in Prussia. England was one of the most anti–absolute countered
because all that it tried gathered ruler was demoted of power, killed, or banished. It was difficult to
do anything for England because when taxes were raised, the Parliament took over their power to do
that along with imprisonment without trials. Military played ... Show more content on
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This lead to absolutism because the Hohenzollern were vicious people that wanted their religion to
spread. This motivated and pushed Prussia to fight for land and spread Protestantism. In acquiring
absolutism, Prussia's spread of religion and claiming of land would not only get rid of their rival, but
also improve the chances at attaining absolutism. Because the Reformation of Protestant religion,
the Hohenzollerns were all for the spreading of land and religion. The spreading of religion would
drastically make a big change in absolutism because the population and supporters of the country
would significantly go up. This would come with perks such as many more military soldiers which
would form a stronger, better army. This army would be unstoppable as it was a strong during
Frederick I was in charge, it got stronger when Frederick II took power, and now it would top the
amount of power and strength it already had over the other countries. The motivation, strength, and
confidence that Protestantism gave the Hohenzollerns and its followers was enough to give Prussia
that edge and power which led to the successful absolute

Enlightened Absolutism In The 18th Century
In late eighteenth century Germany, the concept of enlightened absolutism was predominately
absent. Although it may have appeared that monarchs of the time were using personal power to
improve the lives of their subjects, monarchs were doing quite the opposite.
Robert S. Taylor, a professor of political science at the University of California–Davis, believes such
rulers only used enlightened ways to get what they desired. Using German philosopher of the
enlightenment era Immanuel Kant as a supporter, Taylor declares: "While [Kant's] support for
enlightened absolutism was sincere, he believed that such rule was enlightened only insofar as it was
ultimately self–extinguishing, a process made possible by the myopic self–interest of the monarch"
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Acquiring land by the division of Poland would benefit Frederick immensely in ways of adding to
personal wealth and land acquisition. He does not state that this gain would be the best for Prussia or
the German people as a whole. Instead he concerns himself with personal profit. Additionally, the
separation of Poland is not considered an enlightened action. Ultimately, this situation reinforces the
idea that monarchs of the time were in favor of ruling to benefit themselves and not for their

Maria Theresa
Maria Theresa, the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI, was the last ruler of the House of
Habsburg. Prior to Theresa's birth, in 1700 Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I and Archdukes Joseph
and Charles of Austria signed the Mutual Pact of Succession, giving the eldest son's daughters a
higher position in the line of succession. After Emperor Leopold I and Joseph I died, Archduke
Charles of Austria ascended the throne. As the last male heir of the Habsburg Empire, Charles VI
issued the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713. With this, Charles VI's nieces were placed behind his
daughters in the line of succession. Though Prince Eugene of Savoy, Charles VI's advisor, urged
against the sanction, in favor of expanding the Austrian military and treasury, Charles VI secured the
sanction, leaving Austria bankrupted. As the heir of the bankrupt state, Maria Theresa would face
great losses in the War of the Austrian Succession and Seven Years' War as a result of Austria's
impoverished state.
Theresa ascended the throne as Archduchess of Austria and Queen of Hungary in 1740 following ...
As Austrian troops forced French forces out of Bohemia, Theresa declared herself Queen of
Bohemia in May 1743. With this, Austrian forces advanced on the Rhine frontier, and in August
1744Prussian forces destroyed Prague. The following year, Charles VII died in January 1745. Upon
Charles VII's death, Duke Francis Stephen was elected Holy Roman Emperor and Theresa became
Holy Roman Empress in September 1745. As Holy Roman Empress, Theresa was forced to
relinquish Silesia to Prussia as the Treaty of Breslau was signed in December 1745. Conflict
continued throughout Italy and the Netherlands for the following three years. Finally, with the Treat
of Aix–La–Chapelle, the War of the Austrian Succession ended, leaving Silesia under Prussian and
relinquishing the Duchy of Parma to

Similarities Between Peter The Great And Louis Xiv
In the seventeenth century, the ideology of absolutism was established in France under the reign of
Louis XIV. Subsequently, France's success initiated other monarchs to rule as an absolute power
including Prussia and Russia. Throughout the reigns of the Russian Tsar, Peter the Great and the
Prussian King, Frederick William I, they have achieved great success for their monarchs. These
rulers have also portrayed similar methods of acquiring supreme control over their monarchs and
becoming a sovereign power. Therefore, Louis XIV, Peter the Great and Frederick William I
practiced similar and contrasting methods of controlling their monarchs by imposing economic,
political and social reforms. Peter the Great and Louis XIV compare through their ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
Frederick William I, The Solider King, increased the ammount of soliders in the Prussian Army
greatly. To recompensate for the increase of soliders, Frederick William I used the majority of the
tax money for the Prussian military. Furthermore, Louis XIV desired to expand France by
conquering other states. Louis XIV viewed war as a sign of being a powerful ruler. He fought as
many war as he could. To recompensate for the expanses of the wars he increased taxes on the
peasants. In the beginning Louis XIV saw great success by conquering The Spanish Netherlands and
the Dutch Republic. Later he only recieved minor territories. In contrast, Frederick William I never
fought in any wars. He believed his soliders were too valuable to

Enlightened Despotism in Prussia
Assignment: 1
Critically examine the main features of Enlightened Despotism in 18th century Prussia.
The Enlightenment refers to an important cultural and intellectual movement of the 18th century,
whose goal was to establish knowledge based on an enlightened rationality. Enlightened Absolutism
or Enlightened Despotism as it is more often called can be defined as a form of government strongly
influenced by the wide propagation of ideas and the political philosophy of the Enlightenment. It is
a term first used by the Philosophes in the second half of the 18th century that manifested to
describe a particular phase in the development of absolutism. The term 'Enlightened Despot' refers
to those 18th century monarchs who were familiar with ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Christian Wolff was the first to introduce the ideas of the Enlightenment into German administrative
theory. His ideas derive from the Enlightenment. According to Wolff, the state was a voluntary
contract between individuals and the main purpose of the state was to further welfare and security.
At the same time, since the state has the duty to plan and implement measures for security and
welfare, it has the right to insist that its citizens obey its orders. It is emphasized that they are bound
to do willingly whatever the authorities deem to be right. These ideas were expounded and
elaborated, without adding anything new, by the German political theorists of the 18th century and
particularly by the followers of Wolff.
In practice, Enlightened Absolutism was certainly not so radical. The Physiocrats never got beyond
the initial stages in the implementation of their doctrines. Thus the French doctrine of Despotisme
éclaire remains an interesting trend of thought, but its practical effect was almost nil. The direct
influence of the German 18th century administrative theory was not much as well.
Frederick II of Prussia is often regarded as the first true enlightened despot. He was the first
monarch who declared 'the sovereign is the first servant of the state' and presented Europe with a
model of progressive monarchy. Frederick cultivated friendship with several Philosophes and
believed that inputs from them could be used to make the administration of

Enlightment for Fredrick the Great of Prussia and Joseph...
Frederick the Great of Prussia and Joseph II of Austria adopted the newfound ideas of the
Enlightenment to different extents with Frederick the Great advancing the ideas by implementing
religious toleration, freedom of speech and press, and setting a single code of laws for all of his
subjects and not advancing them by not abolishing serfdom for fear of upsetting the "Junkers", or
Prussian nobility; Joseph II advanced the ideas of the Enlightenment eagerly by completely
abolishing serfdom paying no heed to what it could cause socially and politically and he didn't
advance these ideas in the end because his many reforms caused alienation of the church and
nobility and radical changes in social hierarchy.
Frederick the Great of Prussia ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Most of these reforms though were to please the querulous nobility and prevent them from trying to
interfere with the government and upset social balance. Frederick the Great set limitations whilst
accepting Enlightenment ideas when it interfered with the good of his subjects, economy and his
beloved military. All of these three topics depended on the Prussian nobility, or the "Junkers" who
owned large amounts of land had many serfs to farm it. Many of these Junkers also held important
military ranks in the army. Frederick the Great could have chosen to abolish serfdom but did not for
this would greatly anger the Junkers, the backbone of the Prussian state and military. It was said that
Prussia was not a country with an army: it was an army with a country. In Frederick's military, he
did not abolish torture to help install discipline and honesty in his soldiers. Keeping this helped his
army become the fourth strongest army in Europe.
Joseph II of Austria strictly believed that reason was the best and only path to take and so accepted
nearly all of the new Enlightenment ideas on his traditionally run empire causing major issues. One

Frederick William I Research Paper
Frederick William I, also known as the "solider king" acieved great success for Prussia. He was a
military mastermind who constructed the largest army in Europe. The military was alway his first
priority. Therefore, he always kept his military uniform on. He constructed this great army with his
side kick, Prince Lepold of Anhalt–Dessau. Dessau was a great solider and strategist. He made the
army percised with his invention of the marching step. He also, provided the soliders with bayonetts
and replaced the old ramrod with ones made out of iron which enabled them to reload their muskets
faster. Furthermore, Frederick William I was a hash disiplinarian who punished misbehaved soliders
by flogging and executions. Therefore, his special equitment

Absolutism Dbq
After the Renaissance, there were many factors that gave way and led to chaos, and then the choice
between an absolutist government, or a constitutional one. These factors included the decline of the
previous social order of Feudalism, the Protestant Reformation, new logical and scientific ideas
from famed Renaissance thinkers, and riots/revolts from unhappy citizens of numerous classes.
Some states like France, Russia, and Prussia, resulted in all the power gathered under the monarch's
personal control, which happened due to comparable actions by the ruler. In the 1600s and 1700s,
Absolute monarchs like Louis XIV, Peter the Great, and the Soldier King of Prussia, had similar
methods to strengthen bureaucracy and control the nobles, develop ... Show more content on
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They all had similar tactics in taxation, but each had economic policies which resembled one
another. Colbert, Louis XIV's financial manager, promoted mercantilism, a policy of maintaining a
favorable balance of trade in order to accumulate wealth. These mercantilist policies massively
boosted France's economy. The French people were to produce everything they needed, exports
were increased, and immigration by talented peoples was encouraged. Positively, this approach
allowed France to become a competitor in trade. As a result, France surged in power and wealth,
giving Louis XIV the ability and money to reform other areas of the government. Likewise, Peter
the Great was inspired by his travels to use mercantilist ideas. More money meant more opportunity
to better the country. Furthermore, he boosted industry and production of raw materials. This whole
economic sector was underneath the monarchy's control, in order to promote the success Peter the
Great saw necessary and fit. Correspondingly, in Prussia, the next Hohenzollern was Frederick the
Great, who applied enlightened absolutist ideas to the economy. Frederick took a more humane
approach to policy, which would strengthen the state, and he also reconstructed agriculture and
industry. Altogether, the monetary and financial systems these enlightened rulers employed were to
make more money. More financial capabilities would result in a stronger state, due to the ability to
accomplish more goals, and a better life for the rulers'

The Gay Lives of Frederick the Great and William Iii
The Gay Lives of Frederick the Great and William III Frederick the Great of Prussia and William III
of the Dutch Republic were two well known great leaders of Europe. They lived decades apart,
William from 1650 to 1702, and Frederick from 1712 to 1786, yet had uncannily similar lives, in
many aspects. These leaders, because of a somewhat controversial past, have lost many important
clues about what their lives were really like. Nonetheless, it is known for sure that both were
knowledgeable, great military leaders, champions of justice, and very likely homosexual. One of the
few dissimilarities between Frederick and William was the religion they were raised on, which of
course was to influence the rest of their lives, particularly in ... Show more content on
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It is said that his father arranged his marriage with Christine to prove Frederick's heterosexuality in
addition to producing an heir. Frederick, as a military leader, also was known to have relationships
with his friends from the battlefield. Though, to his credit, he never allowed any relationships to
interfere with his work or compromise his integrity. Perhaps Frederick's best known and interesting
affair was with the famous French poet Voltaire. Frederick's love for French culture encouraged him
to reach out to Voltaire, and in 1736 the 24 year old prince sent a letter to the 22 year old, already
quite famous philosopher. Thus began their friendship, and they kept a close friendship, or possibly
more throughout their lives. Still, there was a conflict of interest between them. Preceding
Frederick's coronation, Voltaire "Never tired of comparing Frederick to Apollo, Alcibiades and the
youthful Marcus Aurelius" (Strachey 170). But Voltaire wanted to see a peaceful, united Europe, and
once Frederick took the throne of Prussia he seemed only interested in war. Frederick tried to keep
Voltaire around, even offering him positions in the court as he still very much valued Voltaire's
opinions. Voltaire and Frederick still exchanged writings, Frederick's work still often implying

The Rise Of Enlightened Absolutism In The 18th Century
In the course of the 18th century, an innovative mindset known as the Enlightenment spread
throughout Europe. Followers and supports of this movement questioned the traditional social and
political practices common of the time. Although the Enlightenment gained its momentum among
the working class, it soon spread to the nobility of European states. Acceptance of Enlightenment
rationalism and the adaption of such policies into political movements by rulers became known as
enlightened absolutism. Former Russian historian and professor at Columbia University Marc Raeff
claimed "The very contradiction inherent in the notion of enlightened absolutism doomed the effort
to failure" (1221). The concept of royalty striving for what was best for those whom they ruled is
certainly a puzzling factor but it did not doom the notion to failure. For rulers to alleviate personal
power and submit it to his or her own subjects was an action that went against the traditional ways
of life. The late 18th century ruler of Prussia, Frederick II is an exemplary ruler in regards to
enlightened absolutism. FINISH!! ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Such feelings were documented in the diary of Henri de Catt, a literary aid to the King. Catt was
with Frederick throughout the global conflict known as the Seven Years War. During the summer of
1758 the Prussian town of Küstrin was besieged by the Russian army. In his book Frederick the
Great Catt notes the response of Frederick after learning the destruction of Küstrin: A letter was
brought to him which expatiated at length on the horrors committed by the Cossacks, Küstrin having
been reduced to ashes. The blood mounted to his face as he read the letter. "Feel my forehead...how
it burns. You see I have the utmost difficulty in restraining the violence of the first moment. I fear
nothing for myself, but for my poor people."

Otto Von Bismarck 's Foreign Policy Affect The Creation Of...
The creation of Germany was made possible through the great ideas of Otto von Bismarck, the
Prime Minister of Prussia. This investigation will explore the question: How did Otto von
Bismarck's foreign policy affect the creation of Germany? The first source that will be analyzed is
Jonathan Steinberg's Bismarck: A Life. This is a very valuable source because Steinberg was a
professor at Cambridge University for 33 years teaching, he now teaches at the University of
Pennsylvania as professor of Modern European History. His teaching covers modern Europe since
1789, primarily focusing on the German, Austrian Empires, Nazi Germany, and Fascist Germany
showing that he is very knowledgeable on this topic. The purpose in writing this book is to
"illuminate the life of the statesman who unified Germany but who also embodied everything
ruthless about Prussian culture (Steinburg i)." Steinberg wants to give an insight on Bismarck's life,
the thinking, and how the type of person he was affected his plan in creating Germany. In this book
Steinberg heavily focuses on contemporary writing, allowing Bismarck's friends and enemies to tell
the story. "I met and read the letters and diaries of the greatest figures in Prussian society" (x). This
is a strength for it allows the reader to see how Bismarck friends and foes viewed him as a leader
during the process. While the focus on contemporary writing is a strength, it is also a limitation
because some of the writing towards

The Impact Of Frederick The Great Philosopher's Influence...
Frederick the Great was born at a time of pivotal transformation – transformation who's effects are
still felt today, in Europe and elsewhere. The 18th century is recognized as the time of
Enlightenment, marking "mankind's exit from its self–incurred immaturity". Often referred to as the
"Age of Reason", the Enlightenment emphasized the importance of rationalism in governance and
allowed philosophy and the arts to flourish. The Enlightenment set itself against what was perceived
to have been the centuries of superstition, ignorance and venality that had followed the fall of the
great ancient civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome, which were deemed to have exemplified a
thirst for rational learning and thought. In the early 1700s, new philosophical principles spread ...
Philosophers like Kant and Voltaire were recognized in their lifetimes for their contributions to the
European Enlightenment and are still mainstays of philosophical study in academic institutions
today. These two philosophers were united in their advocacy for religious tolerance, encouragement
of rationalism,and emphasis on the rights of the individual. In 1712, Frederick the Great was born
into this rapidly changing intellectual environment and grew up during the early years of the
Enlightenment. As a young man, he took full advantage of the philosophical ideas that were
becoming prevalent in European intellectual circles and immersed himself in philosophy and the
arts. His father, Frederick I, a conservative monarch of the European "old school" was horrified.
"My son is a flute–player and a poet!" the elder king once cried, infuriated. Frederick even went so
far as to hire a 'homeschool teacher' who was, in reality, a flute instructor hiding his true identity to
avoid Frederick's father's

absolutism in europe Essay
Absolutism affected the power + status of the European nobility depending on the country in which
they lived. In England the power of the nobility increases due to a victory in the English Civil War
and the Glorious Revolution of 1658. However, in France, Louis XIV¡¯s absolutist regime
decreased the powers of the noble but heightened their material status. In Russia and in Prussia, the
absolutist leaders of those countries modernized their nations + the nobility underwent a change, but
it retained prestige + power.
Charles I considered himself to be an absolute monarch in England in the 1630¡¯s. A large portion
of the parliament dislikes him because they wanted more of a say on the government and because
the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He built Versailles, a beautiful palace outside of Paris for his nobles. Lined with gardens and filled
with fountains + opulent architecture + decorations Versailles was a veritable playground for the
nobles. There were balls, fancy clothes + huge numbers of servants, and most of the nobles¡¯
incomes were spent on these luxuries. Thus, the status of the nobles was high and they were wealthy
+ lived an indulgent lifestyle, but they had no political power in the French government.
During this same time Peter the Great sought to ¡°westernize¡± Russia. An autocratic tsar who had
absoluter power, he did not wish to share it with his royal court. He moved the capital to St.
Petersburg, and absorbed western intellectual and cultural trends. He forced all his nobles to cut of
their beards, and instructed them to learn modern Western dances. Russia historically had an
autocratic tsar like Peter, + the nobles have no political clout in the government. However, the
nobles in Russia are huge landowners and had enormous powers over the serfs on their estates. This
economic power, b/c serfs were almost like slaves, made them wealthy + prosperous. Thus, although
Peter the Great rules without the input of anyone else, the nobles were westernized under his rule +
enjoyed power over their serfs and economic gains.
In Prussia, a similar situation emerges. Frederick William, ¡°the Great Elector",

Frederick The Great Accomplishments
Frederick the Great is best remembered nowadays as the Prussian king who led his country to the
forefront of Europe through several wars and his domestic policies. Being an enthusiastic patron of
the arts, he is also remembered as being a talented musician and Enlightened despot who sought to
become the ideal "platonic king". But while Frederick the Great pursued Enlightenment ideas and
patronage of the arts, he deserves the title, "The Great", because of his military and state
achievements. While Frederick is remembered as a great military mind, ironically, as a child,
Frederick seemed to shun all of the militaristic views and habits of his father. Against his father's
wishes, he was interested in learning poetry, French, and music. His interests ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
He will undoubtedly be remembered for his pursuit of Enlightenment ideas and patronage of the
arts, but it was the stories of Frederick's deeds and speeches far outlived his own life. It was the
stories of Frederick rallying the broken ranks at Hochkirch, being hit by a cannonball at Torgau, or
Frederick's rallying speech at Leuthen that were remembered by his men and subjects, not the fact
that Frederick was more interested in French than German, or that he played the flute. It was
Frederick's reforms of agriculture, economics, and preservation and expansion of Prussia against all
odds and enemies that people remembered, not the fact that Frederick wrote a commentary on
Machiavelli or had a different taste in music. We remember Frederick II in our textbooks as
Frederick the Great not because he was a patron of the arts or considered himself a philosopher king,
but because he used his army and reforms to turn the small backwater country of Prussia into the a
feared power in

Comparing Catherine The Great And Frederick The Great
Catherine the Great and Frederick the Great were two great rulers from different places and different
time. They both had an impressive accomplished during their reign. A man and a woman, who made
history in the world, beyond an amazing resume, was also a drawback that tainted their name.
Catherine the great, who was also known as Catherine II, was an empress of Russia who ruled from
1762–1796. She was also the longest woman ever to rein Russia. She gained the throne when she
married peter III a Russian prince who would become Emperor. After only six months on the throne,
Catherine overthrew him with the aid of Grigory Orlov, a military officer with whom she was
having an affair. Her husband was later arrested and killed, which secured her position on the throne.
Catherine's greatest achievements ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He was born into the throne due to Frederick William I of Prussia and Princess Sophia Dorothea the
sister of George II of Great Britain. Before he gained the thrown Frederick II had a very rough
childhood. His father abused him often beating and humiliating him for trifling reasons, at age 18,
Frederick attempted to escape his fathers abuse tried to flee with his childhood friend Hans Herman
von Katte. They were caught and arrested for treason, and Katte was beheaded in Frederick's
presence. His father pardoned Frederick, but placed him as a junior official in local administration to
learn the ways of government. After a tepid reconciliation, Frederick's father arranged him to marry
Elizabeth Christine of Brunswick–Bevern, in 1733. Frederick quickly separated from her and for the
rest of his life, showed no interest in women. Frederick ascended the throne upon the death of his
father in 1740, and abandoned peaceful pursuits to make his place in the geopolitical intrigue of
18th–century Europe. Fortunately, his loathsome father left Frederick with a strong army and ample

Frederick The Great: Steuben's Influence On Our World
Prussia: a country so forgotten Crayola even renamed its Prussian blue crayon midnight blue back in
1958 after deeming Prussia irrelevant to modern times. Located in central Europe and legally
dissolved in 1947 as a part of the political reconstruction of Germany after the Second World War,
Prussia quickly faded from memory. However, Prussia is not irrelevant. From Prussia came
Frederick the Great, who redesigned eighteenth–century Europe; the Baron de Steuben, who helped
America become a country; and Magnus Hirschfeld, who launched the modern gay rights
movement. Today, we will meet these three influential men and examine their impact on our world.
In order to understand Frederick the Great, it is necessary to have some background on Prussia. ...
He moved to "Gay Berlin" (the name stemming from both Berlin's prominence in the study of
sexuality and its busy gay nightclub scene) and became involved in sexology. Hirschfeld wrote
books about his research and delivered speeches. As his reputation grew across Europe as a dynamic
author and orator, Hirschfeld began traveling on international speaking tours, even hitting up China
and Mexico. And, according to human rights activist and historian Peter Tatchell in his article
Magnus Hirschfeld – The Einstein of Sex, the common mindset was slowly being changed. There
was even expected to be a vote to make homosexuality legal in 1929. However, the rise of Nazism
brought this to a halt.
Immediately after seizing power, the Nazis attempted to crush any trace of Gay Berlin. In 1933, as a
part of Joseph Goebbels's book burning, Hirschfeld's Institute for Sexual Sciences and the decades
of research it contained were destroyed. Terrified, and having watched his life's work be obliterated,
Magnus Hirschfeld fled to France, where he died in 1935.
However, though the Nazis tried, Hirschfeld made his mark. Henry Gerber, inspired by Hirschfeld's
Institute for Sexual Sciences, founded the first known American gay rights organization, and all
across the globe, similar groups cropped up, some of them even bearing Hirschfeld's name. Today,
people who perform outstanding services to sexual sciences can even

Otto Von Bismarck: 19th Century Germany
Chancellor, politician, and strategist, Otto Von Bismarck was truly a renaissance man of 19th
century Europe, employing his own policy of Realpolitik across Prussia and into all Germanic
states, expanding his confederation into an unrivaled superpower in Europe. Otto Von Bismarck
(1815–1898) oversaw the construction of Germany by unifying Prussia and smaller Germanic
territories directly through bloody conflicts. In doing so, he focused on foreign endeavors of
annexation, absolute dominance, self–identification, and most importantly, stability and peace.
Given his foundational contributions, Otto Von Bismarck is likely the most important player in
unifying a fragmented Germany and transforming it to the most revered nation in 19th century

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