Europe During the Enlightenment 18th Century Wars (War of Spanish Succession, War of Austrian Succession, and The Seven Years War) and Capitalism
Europe During the Enlightenment
18th Century Wars (War of Spanish Succession, War of Austrian Succession, and The Seven Years War) and Capitalism
War of Austrian Succession
War of Spanish Succession (1713-1714)
● Result: Quadruple Alliance to preserve peace○ Britain, Netherlands, France, Austria, and
Netherlands
War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748)
Causes
Frederick the Great challenges Habsburg power by questioning Maria Theresa's inheritance
France, Spain, and Sweden join Prussia
Results
Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748): Prussia’s annexation Silesia recognized
Alliances swap: Britain - Prussia, France - Austria (but still P v A and B v F)
Prussia, France, Spain, Bavaria, and Saxony
Austria, Great Britain, and Netherlands
18th Century Wars (pg. 2)
Seven Years War
Leading Up to Seven Years War (1750s) Both a continental war and a colonial conflict
Austria v. Prussia (continental) England v. France (colonial)
● Frederick invaded Austria’s ally Saxony
Motivations: all against Prussia’s growing power
● Maria Theresa wants Silesia back ● Louis XV wants to make France great
colonial power● Elizabeth of Russia wants to conquer Eastern
Prussia
● British and French fighting over colonies in India and the Americas
The Seven Years War (1756-1763)Convention of Westminster Treaty of Versailles
Great Britain and Prussia France, Austria, and Russia
Prussia v. Austria and Russia ● Frederick II’s invasion of Saxony successful, but it
created a powerful union against Prussia
● In 1757 East Prussia invaded by Russia○ The Russians temporarily seized Berlin and
overran Pomerania ● In 1760-1761 the Austrians took back Saxony and
Silesia
Frederick’s Victory ● Frederick II victorious because death of his
biggest enemy, Tsarina Elizabeth of Russia in 1762 ○ Peter III, her nephew, idealized
Frederick so he ordered Russian forces to stop fighting → St. Petersburg Treaty
● All alone, Austria driven out of Silesia and forced to sign Treaty of Hubertusberg in 1763○ Return to the prewar land ownership so
no border changes
Britain v. France Focused on fighting each other via colonies than helping out allies on continent
Americas
● French and Indian War: fighting between Britain and France in the Americas ○ British take New France; prevent
France from making a comeback
India
● Louis wanted to defeat British East India Company to make French East India Company dominant in India
● British successful in 1761 because navy
Naval WarfareWarship: centerpiece of navy
● Held firepower of an army and cost about the same● Naval warfare was vicious cycle: whoever had the most ships could defend
their trade routes which generated revenue to be used to buy ships
Victors of the Seven Years War ● Seven Years War 2nd world war
(1st was Thirty Years War)● 4 treaties to end: Treaty of St.
Petersburg, Treaty of Hamburg, Treaty of Hubertusburg, and Treaty of Paris (British colonial victories)
● Loser: France in rapid decline culminating in French Revolution
● Victors:○ Britain: largest colonial
empire ever○ Prussia → strong European
power
Economics
Mercantilism (pg.1) Mercantilism: economic system used 1500s-1700s country’s wealth based on accumulation of gold and silver
To accomplish this, need favorable balance of trade (exports > imports)
Colonies provided raw materials and precious metals; also markets for consumer goods
History of Capitalism 1304 Padua, Italy: Giotto creates a fresco that depicts Jesus driving away moneylenders from temple
● Reinforces Christian attack on immorality of money which holds back capitalism for centuries
1450 Venice, Italy: Franciscan friar Luca Pacioli writes first book on accounting
● Introduces idea of double entry bookkeeping ● Money is not divine punishment or reward, science that can be learned
1555: Geneva, Switzerland: John Calvin emphasis Protestant Virtues: hard work self denial, honesty, patience, and duty
● Being good at business is better in God’s eyes than being an aristocrat or monk → new idea that lays foundation for capitalism
1670 Dutch Republic: first capitalist nation as aristocrats looked down up, hard working merchants revered
● Art: Vermeer’s work emphasize that living at home and running one’s business far more noble than fighting in a war or going to a monastery
1776 London, England: Wealth of Nations published by Adam Smith
● Explains how capitalist economies grow: slavery inefficient because money greater incentive than violence and cost of buying and maintaining slaves > cost of wages
● Division of labor as more efficient mode of production ● Capitalism guided by “invisible hand” by maximizing one’s own profit, benefit
society
Evolution of Capitalism via Consumerism Consumer Revolution
● Began in northwestern Europe as wages rise ● Cycle: more consumers spend, more business grew, more wages rose
Mandeville
● New interpretation of the role of vanity in the economy ● What made countries rich was shopping for pleasure ● Posed a dichotomy: consumerism (consequence: moral decadence) or high mindedness consequence: poverty)
Rousseau
● Called for return of simpler way of life like tribes of Native Americans ● Recommended closing Geneva’s borders, upping taxes on luxury goods ● Preferred virtue to wealth
Compromise of Mandeville and Rousseau: Adam Smith
● Ultimate goal of capitalism: happiness psychologically and materially