The rise of absolutism in Eastern Europe was greatly influenced by the new absolute monarchies, the society within such monarchies, as well as the baroque art style. Influences from the absolute monarchies, which had, emerged in Austria, Prussia, and Russia had a powerful impact on culture, encouraging a magnificent developing of the baroque style. Most of the eastern absolutism was based on the foundation of Louis XIV of France, who was the first to set absolutism during the 1600s. Eastern absolutism however, differed from French absolutism, having a powerful nobility class, a weak middle class, and an oppressed peasant class composed of serfs. The absolute monarchies of Austria, Prussia, and Russia each expressed absolutism differently.

Between 1400 and 1650, princes and landed nobility of Eastern Europe had reestablished serfdom from the High Middle Ages mainly because of economic reasons. The nobility also reduced the importance of the towns and the...