Ch. 18: The Rise of Russia

1. Glynis Ch. 18: The Rise of Russia

2. Early Tsars and Expansionism • Ivan III (Ivan the Great) • took control of Russia after it gained its independence from the Mongols in 1462. • emphasized Russian expansion and centralized rule • Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible) – next important tsar • emphasized Russian expansion and controlling the boyars (aristocracy); known for his policies of terror • Expansionism • focused mostly on central Asia; however, they kept contacts with Europe • tsars recruited peasant-adventurers (cossacks) as expansionists who both farmed and fought • Loyal nobles and bureaucrats received land grants in the territories. • New agricultural area and labor

3. Romanovs • Time of Troubles – (1606-1613) power claims by the boyars after Ivan IV died without an heir, as well as Swedish and Polish attacks on Russian territory. As a solution, the boyars chose Michael Romanov as tsar. • Romanov dynasty lasted until the revolution in 1917

4. Romanovs (cont.) • Michael Romanov - established order easily, drove out the foreign invaders, and resumed expansion. • Alexis Romanov - Michael’s successor; abolished the assemblies of nobles and had new power over the Russian church; wanted to purge the church of superstitions; his policies returned to the Orthodox tradition of state control over the church. • dissident religious conservatives called Old Believers were exiled to Siberia or southern Russia

5. Peter I (Peter the Great) • emphasized tsarist control and expansionism • autocrat • took away much of aristocrats’ power and instead made non-nobles into bureaucrats and officials • gave upper-class women more freedom and changed the appearance of the nobles • created a Russian navy • built up mining industry • encouraged westernization • after his death in 1724, there were decades of weak rule

6. Catherine the Great • wife of the late Peter III, ruled as Catherine II • defended centralization, expanded Russia with success, put down the Pugachev rebellion • lessened severity of punishments and instated nobles as bureaucrats and officers instead of as an independent force. • supported some ideas of the French Enlightenment and discussed Western-style law codes • however, she rejected cultural influences from the West

7. Partition of Poland • Occurred during the reign of Catherine the Great • Russia won agreements with Austria and Prussia to partition Poland, which was very weak • there were three partitions (1772, 1793, and 1795) • these partitions eliminated Poland as an independent state

8. Themes in Russian History • Serfdom • The nobility increased its power over the serfs • Serfdom satisfied the nobility and controlled the commoners • By 1800, the system was very close to slavery • Trade and Economic Dependence • While Russia’s economic system worked well, there were still limitations • After years of agricultural traditions, farmers were not motivated to improve • This led to landlords working the serfs harder, and Russian manufacturing falling behind that of the West

9. Themes in Russian History (cont.) • Social Unrest • Russian peasants, while loyal to the tsar, were bitter to their landlords for taking their land • The Pugachev rebellion of the 1770s was led by EmilianPugachev, who promised an end to serfdom, taxation, and military conscription. The rebellion was ended with Pugachev’s execution, but this did not end unrest.

10. Changes in Eastern Europe • the Scientific Revolution • Ideas from the western Reformation • the Habsburg Empire took over Hungary and the Czech lands • Poland declined in power