Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/511

 Russia and Prussia become European Powers 379 in Prussia," and in this way the modern kingdom of Prussia originated, embracing all the older Hohenzollern territories and the various additions they made from time to time. 655. Militarism of Frederick William (1713-1740). The sec- ond ruler of the new kingdom, Frederick William I, was a rough and boorish king who devoted himself to drilling his battalions, hunting, and smoking strong tobacco. He was passionately fond VIEW OF BERLIN IN 1717 Berlin was only a small town until the days of the Great Elector. It increased from about eight thousand inhabitants in 1650 to about twenty thousand in 1688. It is therefore a much more modern city than Paris or London. Indeed, it is about as modern as New York, for most of its great growth has taken place in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries of military life from his childhood. He took special pride in tall soldiers and collected them at great expense from all parts of Europe. He raised the Prussian army to a size almost equal to that maintained by France or Austria. Moreover, by miserly thrift and entire indifference to luxury, Frederick William treas- ured up a huge sum of money. Consequently he was able to leave to his son, Frederick the Great, not only an admirable army but an ample supply of gold. Indeed, it was his toil and economy that made possible the achievements of his far more distinguished son. 656. Accession of Frederick II, called "the Great" (1740- 1786). In his early years Frederick grieved and disgusted his old father by his dislike for military life and his interest in books