Frederick the Great left a lasting legacy on Prussia and the world, as his military victories and cultural contributions helped shape the course of European history.
This in-person presentation will examine the accomplishments of Frederick II of Prussia as well as the controversies surrounding them.
This event is in-person only.
David Ellis, Ph.D. is a professor of History at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. As part of his undergraduate experience, Ellis studied at the Free University of Berlin for a year and witnessed the opening of the Berlin Wall in 1989, which played an important role in his decision to pursue graduate study in German history.
Ellis’ research interests lie at the intersection of politics, religion, law, and culture. He is particularly intrigued by the nineteenth-century Awakening, a trans-Atlantic revivalist movement that occurred in both Protestant and Catholic areas.
Most of Ellis’ publications address various aspects of the Awakening (die Erweckungsbewegung) in the German-speaking lands. Several focus on exploring the notable tension between Awakeners’ theological egalitarianism and the stalwart defense (by many Awakened leaders) of social and political hierarchy.
He received his doctorate from the University of Chicago, and he has taught at Augustana since 2001.
