Final answer:
The Congress of Vienna established a balance of power in Europe by redrawing borders, restoring monarchies, and creating a consensus among the great powers that led to the Concert of Europe and a prolonged period of peace.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Congress of Vienna of 1814-1815 aimed to restore stability in Europe after the turmoil of the Napoleonic Wars. Led by influential statesmen like Klemens von Metternich and joined by the major powers of Europe, the Congress sought to maintain a balance of power by restoring old boundaries and traditional thrones, and by creating an equilibrium that would prevent any single nation from dominating the continent.
Key steps taken during the Congress included the redistribution of territories to ensure that no state would be at a significant disadvantage or possess an overwhelming advantage. This involved complex territorial negotiations, with certain lands returned, and others adjusted between the major powers, such as Russia, Prussia, and Austria. The placement of Louis XVIII on the French throne served to signal a return to monarchy and stabilize France internally, which was essential given its central position in Europe.
This consensus among the European powers led to the Concert of Europe, promoting political equilibrium among the five great powers and preventing major conflicts until the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. However, the conservative order did face challenges from the rising tide of nationalism and liberalism throughout the 19th century.