Revolutionary History in The 17th and 18th Centuries

Catherine the Great- Catherine the Great was born in 1729 in Stettin, she lived until 1796. Catherine the Great converted to the Russian Orthodox church in 1744 despite her father’s attempt to stop her. She then married Grand Duke Peter in Saint Petersberg, 1745. In 1762 the empress of Russia died, and Peter ascended the throne as Peter III of Russia. He wasn’t popular amoung the nobles, and because he worshiped Frederick the Great; his policies hindered the same groups that Catherine was trying to promote. So, Catherine in 1755, arranged a Coup d’etat to de-throne Peter III. So, Catherine ascended to the throne, and was an enlightened despot. She reasoned that her actions should reflect reform, rationality, and reason based on her readings of Voltaire.

Frederick the Great- Frederick II “The Great” was born in 1712 and lived until 1786. His father was an authoritarian man who attacked his own citizens in the street. One day Frederick tried to escape the kingdom with his friend, but when his father caught him, his father forced him to watch the execution of his childhood friend. This outrageous behavior may have caused Frederick to desire better treatment of the citizens. He was an educated and enlightened king. When he inherited the Holenzoloran dynasty in 1740 which included the 4th largest army and the richest treasury in Europe, he changed Prussia. According to Kishansky’s book entitled Civilization in the West, Frederick’s two goals were to acquire the Polish corrider of West Prussia that serparated his German and Prussian territories; and to aquire the argriculturally and industrially rich province of Silesia. Within two months of his coronation he completed his the task, and it was as rich in resources as Frederick had imagined. According to Kishlansky on 563, “by the end of Fredrick’s reign, Prussia had become a model for beurocratic organization, military reform and enlighted rule”. He was able to accomplish this because he was an enlightened King. Fredrick the Great ascended Prussia to a great military power through his army. He instituted a miltary college, to train better officers. During his reign, Frederick forged an allience with the Prussian noblitity that united them to a unified state.

The Peace of Paris(1763)- England wins the French Indian War, which bankrupts France. The Peace of Paris was a treaty signed by Great Britain, France, Spain, and Portugual in 1763. This treaty ended the Seven Years War (The French and Indian War).

Louis XIV (1643-1715)- Louis XIV was born in 1638 in France, and lived until 1715. He ascended the throne and ruled as king of France and Navarre in 1643.