Prussia through the eye's of Montesquieu

Over the past few years I have extended my studies to governemnt. I have created the speration of powers. I hope to spread my ideas fast and change many more governments. Prussia I hear is slowly adapting to the Enlightenment. While Prussia does not have seperation of powers it does have many other things going for it. First, it has a hereditary aristocracy. In addition, Prussia has divided its social classes just like I did to the French society. However, as an opponent of slavery im not happy with Prussia’s practice of serfdom.

Galileo

I as Galileo have been working hard during my stay in Italy. I have so far found the first four satellites of Jupiter, yet still studying their composition and structure. In addition, my work on the telescope is beginning to transform. Within Prussia, other scientists and philosophers have been working hard on new ideas and experiments. My theories of astronomy have been escalating through Europe over the past few years. My hard work and long hours are surely to pay off, and are beginning new theories for this new era of time.

The Period of Enlightenment in Prussia II

“The Enlightenment, the intellectual movement which advocated reason as the primary basis of authority” (Wikipidia). In Prussia, Frederick II was great ruler who was largely influenced by the Enlightenment. For example, he began encouraging religious freedom; an idea by Voltaire. A strict Calvinist, Frederick II showed his passion for religious freedom by building a Roman Catholic cathedral in Berlin. In addition, he was a strong believer in freedom of expression, also an idea by Voltaire. He proved this by not limiting the number of newspapers and books published in Prussia. Frederick II also made improvements in government during the Enlightenment. In the legal department Frederick II turned to the ideas of Beccaria and abolished torture.

The Period of Enlightenment in Prussia

The influences of philosophers and political scientists such as Condorcet resulted in a new form of government called constitutionalism. Many rulers, such as Frederick II of Prussia, began to change along with the ideas introduced by the Enlightenment. Eventually, the new ideas behind the Enlightenment led to the fall of absolutism and the rise of constitutionalism. Frederick the II encouraged these advancements and supported the spread of Enlightened ideas in Prussia.

Journal Entry from a member of the Clergy

Dear Journal,

I know it has been a long while since I have written, but these past few weeks have been quite hectic; so you missed anything let me catch you up in case. If I have not already told you, Frederick I had built Prussia an amazing and talented army, and now his son, Frederick II, has taken that army to battle. All this violence makes me sick because I know this is not what God wants. I pray to him everyday for the safety and success of our soldiers and he answers my prayers almost everyday. We are doing very well in battle; we have become a Great Power! At least during the fighting and battles of the Thirty Years War we were fighting for religious reasons, but now the fighting has become greedy.
Now let me fill you in on Frederick II. Well first, he is a supporter of religious tolerance and as a strict member of the church I can't say I agree. He wants to give the Jews his full support which is nice but...

Oh no I have lost track of time. I have to go pray, until next time journal.

Your Favorite Clergy

Early Politics in Prussia (Holy Roman Empire)

The Holy Roman Empire consisted of my states. It was originally allied with the papacy but after a long struggle with pope for leadership of Christian Europe its power was weakened. In addition, its power was weakened by the Reformation during the 16Th century because it split the Catholic emperors and German Princes who were on the Protestant side. Also, in 1618 The Thirty Years War began. The Thirty Years War was a long series of wars fought over religion and land and driven by rivalry. The first phase of this war was the Bohemian Revolt. The Bohemian Revolt began when Ferdinand II of the Holy Roman Empire attempted to force Roman Catholic absolutism on his territory but Protestant nobles in Bohemia and Austria fought back. It took Ferdinand five years to win this struggle. At the end of the Thirty Years War the states of the Holy Roman Empire were granted complete sovereignty. Although the church and the empire had their problems they remained closely associated throughout the Middle Ages. For example, German kings were crowned by the pope, a tradition that lasted until Maximilian

The Significant impact of the 18th Century on Prussia

The 1700’s were a significant time for Prussia. During this era Prussia was able to create its infamous army. It was Frederick William I who bestowed upon Prussia an army with military and bureaucratic characteristics. In addition, Frederick William I was able to increase the number of men in the army to 80,000. This was almost 4 percent of the population! Half of his army consisted of foreigners, and the other half was made up of his very own young peasant subjects. When he died he left his son, Frederick II the best trained army in Europe. They were well trained and ready to fight. After having only ruled for seven months Frederick II invaded Silesia, thus beginning Prussia’s participation in the War of Austrian Succession and in the struggle for Silesia. Fighting such a flourished province such as Silesia in these wars gave Prussia great recognition as one of the Great Powers.

Prussia Throughout The Units

Unit 1
Prussia was a state within the Holy Roman Empire. This website gives a brief description about the Empire.
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761558731/Holy_Roman_Empire.html

All the way dating back to the 1200’s, this website gives detail description about the Empire.
http://www.heraldica.org/topics/national/hre.htm

Unit 2
As Prussia began to become its own territory, prior to becoming part of Germany this website describes the forming of this country.
http://www.kolpack.com/packnet/prussia.html

Unit 3
A synopsis of Prussia during the reign of Frederick William.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_William_I_of_Prussia

Gives a thorough explanation of ruler Frederick William during 1600’s and 1700’s. In addition, describes him as a soldier.
http://german-history.suite101.com/article.cfm/frederick_william_i

Giving a description of Frederick William’s prior to becoming ruler as well as pictures, this website offers great definitions and facts about him.http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761567792/Frederi

Travelogue of Brandenburg, The Kingdom of Prussia

Welcome to beatiful and historic Brandenburg in the Kingdom of Prussia!



First, let me give you a little historical background. Brandenburg was a territory outside of the Holy Roman Empire. It is often noted that the Prussian Kingdom itself developed around the city of Brandenburg. Brandenburg flourished after the Protestant Revolution and became a trade center in the 1600s. In 1618, the royal Hohenzollern family, looking to expand their power, acquired the Duchy of Prussia, creating an entirely separate Brandenburg-Prussia state. After the detremental Thirty Year's War, Brandenburg was fortunate to have many productive rulers. Frederick William, Prussia's first ruler, was extremely effective in unifying and rebuilding the country.



Beautiful and intricate architecture is not an uncommon sight in Brandenburg. In 1788, a 35 mile ornamental gate was built leading to the city of Brandenburg. One of the most well known symbols of Prussia, however, is the Sanssouci Palace which is now the home of the World Heritage Site. Frederick the Great built the Sanssouci Palace as his summer home. The architecture of Brandenburg, a once flourishing city, epitomizes the style of architecture of the time.

"Brandenburg 16th & 17th Centuries, Kingdom of Prussia and United Germany." Wikipedia. 19 Nov.2007.20 Nov.2007 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandenburg#16th_and_17th_centuries>.

Prussia in the 18th century- written by a noble Habsburg

Dear Journal,

I am writing to you from my desk in Brandenburg. My biggest fears have come true. Whether the rest of my family wants to admit it or not, the decline of the Holy Roman Empire is upon us. The independent states, including the Prussian state from which I write, are becoming increasingly powerful. With the Wars of Spanish, Austrian, and Polish Succession behind us, our Empire is growing all too weak. Our empire is on the brink of disaster. While the local monarchs have gained more control, they have pushed us out, leaving us in control only of the peasants.

This limited control does have its benefits, however. The peasants that have been tied to our family from generation to generation have helped us tremendously with the growth of our estate. The serfs have no way of demanding pay but they have no way out. The surplus of crops such as wheat and timber allow us to profit greatly in our trade with western cities. Perhaps we can re-strengthen our Empire into the powerful force it once was.

Until then,

Lord Habsburg-Lorraine

The Social Changes in 17th Century Prussia

Before the Protestant Reformation, the states that made up the Holy Roman Empire, namely Prussia, were desperate for social and cultural reform. Frederick III and his son Maximilian I, members of the Habsburg family, saw that the reform in Prussia was needed to strengthen their power and even encouraged the local leaders to carry out such reforms. However, problems arose when the goals of the imperialistic Habsburgs inevitably conflicted with those of the local Prussian rulers. The Habsburgs, obviously wanting to gain as much power as possible, wanted to increase the power of the government over the lives of the people. The local rulers, however, wanted to secure their self-government and stabilize their independence by formally documenting the rights of the states and their people while regulating standard measures of action to ensure the flow of business in each separate state. These conflicts between the local government and the noble power of the Habsburgs over the entire Holy Roman Empire led to a diet, the Reichstag, in 1489. At the Reichstag, leaders from all states of the Holy Roman Empire, including Prussia met, in order to come to a compromise on the necessary reforms. A compromise was met in hopes of a balance between local and empire-wide control. In 1495 Maximilian Habsburg called for peace across the Empire, and even tried to diminish the brutality and violence between the rulers of each individual states. However, Maximilian's reforms did not do much to ease the tensions between the local rulers.

With these social and political changes inevitably came a change in the economy. Tensions continued to rise as it became increasingly more difficult for many people to make money, and increasingly easier for families such as the Fugger family of Augsburg to hold most of the country’s wealth. While the Fuggers and Habsburgs were prospering greatly, the vast majority of Prussia was struggling tremendously. The impoverished farmers and their families were starving, and as a result the peasant population gravitated towards the towns to make more money. Because of this migration from the farmers to the towns, the local governments limited, and even banned, the farmers from the countryside coming into the towns. Just as the local and large governments were arguing, the gap between the classes in the struggling towns became much larger as it was becoming more and more difficult for one to earn a substantial living and climb the social ladder. However, despite the uneven distribution of wealth, the Fuggers’ management of the Habsburgs’ finances, as well as a boom in the trade between the north and south caused Germany, or Prussia, to become the financial center of Europe for many years.

Prussia during the reign of Frederick William – by a peasant

April 14, 1725
Dear Journal,
Large palaces being built, soldiers marching through the streets, Prussia is finally becoming a complete country. While I sat on the street corner watching the city become flourished overnight, it finally hit me how much money is coming into our homeland. The number of soldiers multiplies over night due to our military leader, Frederick William. Together we, Prussia, Brandenburg and all of the provinces are working with each other to make us one united country. Day by day more money, soldiers and freedom is pouring in. Finally Prussia is becoming a country known throughout the world.

Frederick William, ruler of Prussia during the 1600’s and 1700’s

The ruler of Prussia during the 1600’s was Frederick William, know as the “Great Elector” and the rulers of the Estates. Having the goal to unify all three provinces, Brandenburg, Prussia and land along the Rhine and western Germany was to be accomplished by war and diplomacy. Together the three provinces acted as a country, for example they would not levy taxes without each others consent. There was a long and intense struggle between the “Great Elector” and the rulers of the Estates for complete power. Finally ruler, Frederick William became in control of all Brandenburg and Prussia in 1663. Frederick had two astonishing accomplishments including more money and soldiers, and the domination of government through the Estates. It was truly William’s nobility that established the Prussian absolutism and created a unified country. His love for the army and his country was displayed through his everyday diligence and hard work. Prussia became the fourth largest army in 1740. Without Frederick, Prussia would have never expanded nor enhanced as great as it did.