Rise of Modern Nations (1485 – 1825 A. D.)

Foundations of the Russian Empire involved: the Early Russians, Romanovs and the New Russia, Alexander and the Holy Alliance, Russian Culture and Western Influence. In 1500 A. D., the land known as Muscovy (Russia) was far removed from the affairs of western Europe. The few Englishmen or Frenchmen who had visited, reported that its customs were more Oriental than European; that most of the people were without schooling or culture. Between 1500 and 1825 A. D., Russia’s rulers pursued a policy of conquest and made it theirs; the world’s largest country and an active partner in the political affairs of …

Division and weakness in Germany and Italy points up the difference between geographic unity and national unity. It concerns itself with the development of Germany and Italy, both of which were important as geographic regions, long before either area became a nation in the modern sense of that term. During the Middle Ages and the early Modern Period, Germans and Italians proved themselves equal to any people in intellect and achievement, but they lived under a political system that neighbouring national states, had outgrown. As late as 1800, there were hundreds of independent German states, but no German nation or …

Absolutism was sought, achieved, followed by the French Revolution, an Interlude; and peace plans were made for Europe. Both English and French history tell a similar story – of a people’s efforts to gain political rights and liberties. The story of the French RevolutionFrench Revolution differs in a number of ways, from the struggle for parliamentary freedom and the ways in which, the French studied and profited from the English experience. The French struggle was against a more powerful monarchy, than the English had known in modern times. At the time, the English were gaining victories over their kings in …

Constitutional government in England triumphs under the Tudors and the Stuarts. The British Empire is established, United States is born and the United States progresses culturally. It has been stated before that much of English History, is also American History. The 1500’s, 1600’s and 1700’s, witnessed developments in England, that contributed much to present-day American attitudes and values. During these centuries, it is necessary to develop the English events of those years in greater detail, than the parallel events in other European countries. That was the period of the Tudors and Stuarts — of monarchs who claimed that kings rule …