18th Century Warfare: Crash Course European History #20
TLDRThis Crash Course episode delves into 18th-century European warfare and its impact on society. It discusses the population growth and improved living standards, exemplified by the increased variety of garments owned by the French. Despite these signs of 'modernity,' European powers continued to engage in territorial disputes and global conflicts, such as the Seven Years War, which spanned multiple continents. The episode also covers uprisings against oppressive policies, like the Pugachev Rebellion in Russia and the American Revolution, which led to the establishment of a new nation with Enlightenment principles. The script highlights the long-term outcomes of these wars, including the First Partition of Poland and the dire financial situation of France, which foreshadowed the French Revolution.
Takeaways
- 👑 The 18th century European monarchs were still engaging in warfare and territorial expansion, despite the rise of Enlightenment ideas.
- 📈 Population growth and improved living standards in Europe during the 18th century were marked by increased personal wealth, such as the average number of garments owned by French citizens.
- 💣 The century began with wars over succession, such as the Spanish, Polish, and Austrian successions, which were about disputes over rulership.
- 🌍 There were global conflicts over trade routes and territories, including the Seven Years War, which spanned multiple continents and involved various European powers.
- 🇫🇷 France and Britain were the main contenders in these global wars, vying for dominance in the wider world, while Spain sought to protect its Caribbean and Philippine holdings.
- 🏰 The costs of these wars were largely borne by ordinary people through more efficient and demanding tax collection and disruptions to local traditions and practices.
- 👮♂️ The Pugachev Rebellion in Russia was one of the significant uprisings against the 'enlightened' taxation imposed to fund warfare.
- 🗽 The American Revolution was sparked by British taxes imposed on the colonies to cover the costs of imperial warfare, leading to the creation of a new nation with a representative government.
- 🌾 In South America, local uprisings against Spanish rule, such as the one led by Inca Tupac Ameru and his wife Michaela Bastidas, were brutally suppressed.
- 🇪🇸 Despite uprisings and the loss of some territories, the Spanish Empire survived in the Americas due to strategic integration of creoles into the military and administrative structures.
- 💡 The script suggests that the American Revolution and the subsequent events in France were precursors to further independence movements in South America.
Q & A
What was the main theme of the 18th century European powers' interactions as discussed in the script?
-The main theme was warfare and territorial expansion, as European powers engaged with each other both within Europe and beyond, often at great cost.
How did the rising population and wealth distribution in 18th century Europe impact the lives of ordinary people?
-Despite an uneven distribution of wealth and wartime casualties, the rising population and some improvements in living standards, such as an increase in the average number of garments owned, led to better lives for many people.
What were the wars of the Spanish, Polish, and Austrian successions about?
-These wars were about disputes over rulership and who would become king or queen, similar to the disputes at the heart of the Hundred Years War.
Why did Frederick the Great of Prussia seize Silesia during the Habsburg war of succession?
-Frederick the Great seized Silesia to increase the size and wealth of his kingdom, as the Habsburgs were preoccupied with their internal conflict over whether Maria Theresa should ascend to the throne.
What was the significance of the term 'world war' in relation to the mid-18th century cluster of wars?
-The term 'world war' referred to the global scale of these wars, which included battles across continents and oceans, such as the Anglo-Indian Wars, the French and Indian War in North America, and the Seven Years War.
What was the Pugachev Rebellion and what were its outcomes?
-The Pugachev Rebellion was an extensive uprising against the efficient and 'enlightened' taxation to pay for warfare in 18th century Russia. It was led by Emile Pugachev, who claimed to be Peter III. The rebellion was eventually suppressed, and Pugachev was executed, leading to Catherine tightening the nobility's grip on serfs.
What were the main grievances that led to the American Revolution?
-The main grievances included the imposition of taxes by Britain to pay for the costs of imperial warfare, the closing off of westward expansion, and the lack of representation for the colonists in the British government.
How did the Spanish Empire handle uprisings in its South American holdings?
-The Spanish Empire handled uprisings with focused determination, integrating creoles into the officer corps of the imperial armies to build loyalty and using professional training and military privileges to maintain control.
What was the First Partition of Poland and why did it occur?
-The First Partition of Poland was an agreement between Austria, Russia, and Prussia to divide a significant portion of Poland-Lithuania. It occurred as Frederick the Great of Prussia saw an opportunity to expand his territory following the Seven Years War.
What were the long-term outcomes of the 18th century wars for France and Britain?
-For France, the wars led to dire financial straits and a need for reform, eventually culminating in the French Revolution. For Britain, despite losing the American colonies, it maintained control over lucrative Caribbean sugar islands and focused on extracting wealth from India.
Outlines
👑 European Monarchs and Enlightenment
John Green discusses how 18th century European monarchs incorporated Enlightenment ideas into their domestic policies and how European powers engaged in warfare both within Europe and beyond. He highlights the population growth and improved living conditions, such as the increase in garments owned by French people. The concept of 'modernity' is introduced, which combines improvement and novelty. Despite these advancements, warfare continued with a focus on territorial expansion and control over trade routes, leading to global conflicts like the Seven Years' War and the French and Indian War.
🛡️ Warfare and Rebellions in 18th Century
This paragraph delves into the various uprisings and rebellions that occurred in response to the heavy taxation and disruptions caused by warfare in the 18th century. The Pugachev Rebellion in Russia is highlighted, where Emile Pugachev, posing as Peter III, led a significant revolt against the efficient and 'enlightened' taxation system. The American Revolution is also discussed, detailing the imposition of taxes by the British on its colonies and the subsequent Declaration of Independence. The paragraph also touches upon the Spanish uprisings and the role of religious activists and indigenous people in resisting colonial oppression.
🏰 Spanish Empire and the Fight for Freedom
The final paragraph focuses on the Spanish Empire and the various uprisings against its rule, particularly in the Andes. The rebellion led by Tupac Amaru and his wife Michaela Bastidas is detailed, showcasing their efforts to restore the Incan empire and resist Spanish demands. The Spanish government's response to the rebellions and the integration of creoles into the officer corps of the imperial armies is discussed. The paragraph also contrasts the outcomes of the Spanish and British empires, with the former surviving due to its strategic efforts and the latter losing its North American colonies, leading to the establishment of the United States. The paragraph concludes with the long-term outcomes of the 18th-century wars, including the First Partition of Poland and the dire financial situation of France, which would eventually lead to the French Revolution.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Enlightenment
💡Modernity
💡Wars of Succession
💡Territorial Expansion
💡Economic Globalization
💡French and Indian War
💡Seven Years War
💡Taxation
💡Serfdom
💡American Revolution
💡Partition of Poland
Highlights
18th century European powers engaged in warfare both within Europe and beyond.
Population rise in 18th century Europe led to improved living conditions for many.
Economic globalization influenced wars aimed at controlling trade routes and productive territories.
The Great War for Empire involved global battles including the Seven Years War.
Native people were enlisted and manipulated in European conflicts.
Russians faced increased taxes and disruptions to local traditions due to wars.
The Pugachev Rebellion was an extensive uprising against 'enlightened' taxation in Russia.
The American Revolution was sparked by British taxes imposed on the colonies.
The Declaration of Independence was created by North American colonists in 1776.
The newly independent United States established a government with Enlightenment principles.
Spain faced uprisings and was forced to integrate creoles into its military to maintain control.
The Andean rebellion led by Tupac Amaru and Michaela Bastidas fought against Spanish rule.
The Spanish Empire survived due to professional military training and creole integration.
France provided crucial aid to the American Revolutionaries but faced financial crisis and need for reform.
The First Partition of Poland occurred as European powers divided the nation.
Britain focused on extracting wealth from India and maintaining Caribbean sugar islands after losing the American colonies.
Transcripts
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