AP Modern European History 18th Century Review

Review

Paradox of the 18^th Century: “life became both better and worse for the masses”

Political	Popular forms of govt., theory of govt., prominent leaders / govt. action (including wars)	National boarders decided by the Treaty of Utrecht 1713-1714 & Treaty of Nystad 1721 Rise of Russia: Peter the Great & Catherine the Great Enlightened Monarchy (Catherine the Great, Maria Theresa) Two Germanys Rise of Prussia Austria: Maria Theresa – Pragmatic Sanction – War of Austrian Succession 1740-1748 Seven Years War 1756-1763 1772 Partitioning of Poland 1707 Scotland and England joined = Great Britain - Mixed govt., Bicameralism, Partisan politics and the rise of the Prime Minister (Robert Walpole) - Whigs / Tories - Hanoverian succession
Economic	Economic development including technology / innovations, production and consumption patterns	Guilds increasingly centralized, destruction of the small independent shops (Great Cat Massacre) Population growth - Malthus - Agricultural rev. responded to demands in second half of the century - New staple crops emerged (higher caloric yields)
Religious	Role of religion in society, how religion impacted other themes	Religion challenged by Enlightenment principles
Intellectual	Scientific, philosophical movements, includes art	Enlightenment: period of time roughly 1720-1790 when scholars believed in the use of reason and scientific method Voltaire, Hume, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Beccaria, Smith
Societal	Class structure, living conditions, women's role	Wealth of the 17^th Century created new upwardly mobile classes Travel Lit. (Candide) / Romance novels emerged (encouraged women to look for love) Three Estates dominate class system - Nobles: Junkers, Boyars, Gentry Rise of the Bourgeoisie Family life increasingly reflected companionate marriage Emile: Childhood seen as special and different part of life Embraced concept of the individual’s experience as central to life Increased poor, more wage laborers Poverty: worthy poor v. unworthy beggars Carnival / sports / taverns became avenues to vent frustration of the underclass - Dramatic increase in alcohol consumption and urban poverty over the course of the century

Focus Questions:

1. Identify and evaluate Peter the Great’s reforms of Russian society. (581-583)
2. To what extent did Catherine the Great deserve the title “enlightened monarch”? (584-585 & 588)
3. Identify the threats facing Austria under the reign of Maria Theresa, evaluate her success in overcoming these challenges. (590-592)
4. How did Robert Walpole and the Whigs help George I and George II rule England between 1714 and 1760? (597-598)
5. Identify the differences in absolutism in Eastern Europe and Western Europe.
6. Why did population expand in the 18^th Century and what were the consequences (think political, economic and social)? (625 & 628-629) Connect to the rise in and consequences of abject poverty. (631-633)
7. In what specific ways did the enlightenment philosophers challenge the beliefs and practices of 18^th Century life? (611-614)
8. Compare the social and cultural changes that were taking place in the different social classes over the course of the 18^th Century.