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EUROPEAN HISTOTY

This unit is about the European History since it comprises of many states some are Big Some are small

European history

Why do we study European History?

  1. To know the effect of happenings in different countries on themselves and their neighbors.
  1. To know the problems which face different nations and how we can use the nation’s resources on the very same problems in our country

Europe on the eve of the revolution

Prior to the French revolution, Europe comprised of many states some large and some small.

The largest ones included Great Britain, France, Austria, Prussia, and Russia while the minor states included Portugal, Poland, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Hungary, Turkey. These states had common characteristics as well as differences.

The common characteristics included the following:

Politically there was despotism:

Almost the whole of Europe was ruled by despotic or autocratic monarchs who ruled without parliaments and representative government.

The countries were ruled by old order royal families that governed under principal that Devine rights.

This situation was common in countries like Russia although Britain, the monarchy ruled with a constitution.

There were class divisions or stratifications in society:

The society was divided into classes.

At the top were the rulers and their relatives who formed the nobility, majority of who were land owners with a lot of wealth and political privileges.

This class worked together with the clergy who headed the church.

Next to this group were the middle class made up of industrialists, merchants and professionals who were quite wealthy and enlightened but with no political power.

The lowest class was that of the peasants who had no ownership of means of production. They were illiterate impoverished, exploited and with no political privileges at all.

Absence of freedom:

In almost all countries, there was no religious toleration, no political associations, no freedom of movement, no economic freedom and this occurred in cities like Spain, the Papal state, Turkey, Holland, Russia, Austria etc.

There compulsory military service in all states for everyone, who was above 18 years. They had to serve in the army with no pay.

The monarchs were above the law because they were considered divine that is they were answerable to non except God.

Economically there was generation of revenue:oro

Through taxes levied on the peasants. The taxes were mainly on land.

In most states there existed feudalism and serfdom where peasants did not own any means of product but worked for the landlords and were therefore greatly exploited.

In most of the state’s lands was owned by the nobility and the church, leaving the peasants with no means of production and therefore poor and impoverished.

Most of states were imperialistic. They extended they powers to overseas territory, for example Spain, had colonies in South America.

Most of the governments were corrupt and unable to establish social services for the public and fulfill their financial obligations.

This necessitated increasing taxes year after year an act resented by the people especially in France and Russia.

Most states had poor agriculture economics with the exception Britain and as a result countries experienced persistent famine rural poverty etc.

There was economic exploitation of the people by the church.

The church collected the tithe from the people but did not fulfill their economic obligations towards their congregation.

There were poor economic policies in all the countries of Europe and this resulted in unemployment and low levels of production, for example the practice of free trade discourage domestic production and led to wide scale unemployment in different countries.

Most of the countries had numerous internal customs duties which hindered trade and most of the merchants were not happy about the situation, for example in Prussia there were not happy about 6-7 customs duties to be paid as goods were moved from one province to another.

In most states there was the church strong hold on the population.

The people had to obey church laws and they were judged by these alongside the laws of the state.

There were laws about tithe which were harsh and often resulted into death penalties.

Although these conditions mentioned were prevalent almost throughout Europe, her were peculiarities in France that led to the outbreak of their revolution there in 1789.

 

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