how did eastern europe in the 1700's move away from western europe?

Question

this is for my ap euro class. i would appreciate it if anyone had any knowledge of this subject please hit me up.

Answer 1

That's assuming many things...

a) that "Eastern Europe" is a block, which it was not... parts of it belonged to the Hapsburg Empire, others were German principalities, others were Polish or under Russian or Swedish influence... and all those blocks had a different relationship to Europe. So you'd better define what area you're studying.

b) that they were previously "attached" to the West, which is true of some, but not of others

c) that they drifted away on their own power during the 1700s... which is not self evident.

For instance, Austria and Hungary never were far away from the core of Western culture, Wien was one of the most brilliant courts of Europe, Second only to Versailles, if second.

On the other hand, Poland had been having its own problems since the 1600s and its ties with the west around 1700 were already tenuous at best, and lt's not even think of places like the Balkans or Muscovite Russia whose ties to the West were totally inexistent, and actually increased during the period you mention (under Tsar Peter I and Empress Catherine II)

Answer 2

Eastern Europe did not move away. Western Europe experienced the Renaissance, a boom in trade and a growing business class while the east remained stuck with the Middle Ages feudal system.

Essentially, the West moved forward with all sorts of technological improvements. For example, ocean-going ships altered trade routes away from central and eastern Europe, which led to even more economic stagnation.

The short answer is that Western Europe progressed beyond the Middle Ages; Eastern Europe didn't.

Answer 3

Eastern Europe and Western Europe began that separation in 1054 when the Pope (Bishop of Rome) and the Patriarch at Constantinople excommunicated one another and divided Christendom from the Baltic to the Adriatic.

Eastern Europe developed its intellectual tradition from Pseudo Greek reservoirs, while the Western tradition was Latin or Roman. It had enormous implications and still does.

Answer 4

Most of the Balkans was under Ottoman control. So politically and socially they were unable to follow with the west.