Absolute Rulers of Russia

1. Absolute Rulers of Russia

2. Differences in Russia & Western Europe • Russian landowners treated serfs like property. • Russians were Orthodox Christians. • Russia was geographically isolated and had few seaports. • In Western Europe, many serfs won their freedom and moved to cities. • Western Europeans were mostly Catholics and Protestants. • The geography of Western Europe helped trade and made political connections possible.

3. Peter the Great • Visited western Europe • Built St. Petersburg • Brought the Orthodox Church under state control • Reduced power of the nobles • Promoted men from lower ranks • Modernized the army • Opened schools • Promoted western ideas • WESTERNIZATION – laid groundwork for Russia’s economic and political power.

4. Ivan the Terrible Gone Bad • Began in 1560 • Followed Ivan’s accusations that the boyars had poisoned his wife Anastasia • Consisted of his own organized police force hunting down and murdering traitors

5. Importance of a Warm Water Port • Peter the Great believed Russia’s future depended solely on gaining a warm water port • This was the only way he believed Russia could compete economically with western Europe

6. The Westernization of Russia • Peter tried to westernize Russia in numerous ways • Started first newspaper • Raised women’s status • Ordered nobles to wear western fashions • Promoted education

7. Peter- The Absolute Monarch • Took control of the church • Reduced the power of landowners • Strengthened the army • Imposed taxes • Forced reforms on the Russian people