Russia

1. Russia

2. Historical Background • 13th century, the Mongols from Asia invaded eastern Europe and ruled the eastern Slavs for over two centuries • Eventually, princes of Moscow began to consolidate their own rule and replaced Mongol power • Muscovy began to emerge as the most significant principality

4. Ivan III • “Ivan the Great” • 1442-1505 • Ended Mongol domination of Muscovy • Wanted to develop the center of the Orthodox Church (“Third Rome” • Tsar became head of church • Many Greek scholars, craftsmen, architects, and artists brought in

6. Ivan III • Tsar claimed his absolute power was derived from divine right as ruler • Struggled with the Russian boyars for power

7. Ivan IV • “Ivan the Terrible” • 1553-1584 • Grandson of Ivan III • First to take title as “tsar”

8. Ivan IV • Territorial Expansion • Controlled the Black Sea Region • Gained huge territories in Far East • Gained territories in Baltic Region • Westernizing • Encouraged trade with England and the Netherlands

10. Wars • For 25 years, he fought unsuccessful wars against Poland-Lithuania • Military obligations affected nobles and peasants • Left much of central Europe depopulated • Many peasants fled the west to form free groups and outlaw armies in east

11. Boyars • Ivan IV reduced power of the boyars • All nobles had to serve the tsar in order to keep their land • Serfdom increased substantially to keep peasants tied to noble lands • Many nobles were executed

12. “Time of Troubles” • Followed Ivan IV’s death in 1584 • Period of famine, power struggle, and war • Cossack band traveled north massacring nobles and officials • Sweden and Poland conquered Moscow • Nobles elected Ivan’s grand-nephew as new tsar (Michael Romanov)

13. Romanov Dynasty • Lasted from the ascent of Michael Romanov in 1613 to the Russian Revolution in 1917

14. Michael Romanov • 1613-1645 • Favored nobles in return for support • Expanded Russian empire to the Pacific Ocean in far east

16. Russian Society • Continued to transform in 17th century • Nobles gained more exemptions from military service • Rights of peasants declined • “Old Believers” of the Orthodox Church resisted new religious sects (Lutheranism/Calvinism) • Western ideas gained ground • By 1689, Russia was world’s largest country

17. Peter the Great • 1682-1725 • His sister, Sophia, ruled as his regent early on and tried to kill him (had her banished)

18. Peter the Great • Military power was Peter’s greatest concern • Each village had to send recruits • 75% of national budget was spent on military • Establish royal, military, and artillery academies • All young male nobles had to serve 5 years of compulsory education • Large navy built on the Baltic

19. Great Northern War • 1700-1721 • Russia (w/ Poland, Denmark, and Saxony) vs. Sweden • Russia defeated Sweden • Treaty of Nystad (1721) • Russia gained Latvia and Estonia

20. Westernization • Peter traveled to west to study technology and culture as a young man • Sent western Technicians and Craftsmen to Russia • Russia out produced England in iron production

21. St. Petersburg • Sought to create a city similarly to Amsterdam and the Winter Palace with the grandeur of Versailles • By his death, city was the largest in northern Europe • Became capital of Russia • Peter ordered nobles to move to city

22. Impact of Peters’ Reign • Modernized Russia • Modern military and state bureaucracy • Concept of interest in the state • Tsar began issuing explanations to his decrees to gain popular support