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Absolute Rulers of russia. Chapter 5 Section 4. Russia. *Ivan III 1462-1505 *Conquered territory around Moscow * Liberated Russia from the Mongols *Began centralizing the Russian govt *Succeeded by his son, Vasily who ruled for 28 years
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Absolute Rulers of russia Chapter 5 Section 4
Russia • *Ivan III 1462-1505 • *Conquered territory around Moscow • *Liberated Russia from the Mongols • *Began centralizing the Russian govt • *Succeeded by his son, Vasily who ruled for 28 years • *He added territory and increased power of the central govt • *Left throne to his son Ivan IV
Ivan the Terrible • Ivan IV = 1st Czar • 1533 took throne at 3 yrs old • Boyars, Russian landowning nobles tried to take his power • They fought to control Ivan • At 16, Ivan seized power and crowned himself czar • Married Anastasia, a boyar and a Romanov
Ivan, the good Period • 1547-1560 • Won great victories • Added lands to Russia • Gave Russia a code of laws • Ruled justly
Rule by terrorAKA: The “bad Period” • Began in 1560 after the death of Anastasia • Accused the boyars of poisoning his wife & turned against them • Organized his own police force to hunt down traitors and kill them • Dressed in black and rode black horses…hmmm… • Executed many boyars, their families and their peasants • Gave their lands to his loyals
Ivan does more crazy stuff!!! • 1581 Ivan killed his eldest son, and heir to the throne • When Ivan died 3 years later, only his weak son was left to rule who proved to be physically and mentally incapable of ruling, and died without an heir
Times of troubles • Without an heir to the throne Russia experienced turmoil • Boyars struggled for power • Heirs of czars died under mysterious conditions • Impostors tried to claim the throne • 1613 representatives from many Russian cities met ot choose the next czar • They chose Michael Romanov, grandnephew of Ivan’s wife Anastasia • Began the Romanov dynasty which ruled Russia for 300 years (1613-1917)
Peter the Great • Romanovs restored order, strengthened govt, passed a law code, and put down revolt • Peter the Great once shared the throne with his half brother, but then became an absolute ruler • One of Russia’s greatest reformers • Increased the czar’s power
Russia contrasts with Europe • Sefdom existed in Russia until the mid-1800s • Serfs were treated like property • Serfs were sold with the land, they could be given away as presents, or forms of payment, they weren’t allowed to run away • Russia had been cut off from the Renaissance and exploration • Russia was geographically cut off from the west • Russians also had a different religion, they practiced Eastern Orthodox branch of Christianity
Peter visits the west • Peter embarked on the “Grand Embassy”, a long visit to Western Europe • He wanted to learn European customs and manufacturing techniques • He traveled in plain clothes to conceal his identity • Peter had a goal of westernization: he wanted Russia to compete with Europe militarily and commercially • This was a way to make Russia stronger
Peter’s reforms • Peter increased his own power to force change on Russia • Brought the Russian Orthodox Church under state control • Abolished the office of patriarch, hear of the church • Set up a group called the Holy Synod to run the church under his direction • Reduced the power of the great landowners • Recruited men from lower-ranking families and promoted them to positions of authority • Hired European officers to modernize his army with European tactics and weapons • Imposed heavy taxes to pay for army
Westernizing Russia • Introduced potatoes, which became a staple of Russian diet • Started Russia’s first newspaper and edited its first issue himself • Raised women’s status by having them attend social gatherings • Ordered the nobles to give up their traditional clothes for Western fashions • Advanced education by opening a school of navigation and introducing schools for the arts and sciences • Peter believed education was the key to progress, many subjects were forced to study abroad
Establishing St. petersburg • Peter wanted a seaport to more easily access the West • He fought Sweden to access a piece of the Baltic coast • It took 21 years to win the “Window of Europe”, named St. Petersburg • At the time of Peter’s death, Russia was a major force in Europe
End of the romanov dynasty • Czar Nicholas II was forced to abdicate his throne, and his family was taken prisoner • The Bolshevik Revolution, led by Lenin (communist) was sweeping through Russia • The Bolsheviks ordered the Romanov family to be executed