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Absolute Rulers of Russia. Peter the Great & Catherine the Great. 5 reasons why Russia was backward/isolated. Asian Influence resulting from Mongol rule. Civilization had reached Russia from Constantinople not from Western Europe.
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Absolute Rulers of Russia Peter the Great & Catherine the Great
5 reasons why Russia was backward/isolated • Asian Influence resulting from Mongol rule. • Civilization had reached Russia from Constantinople not from Western Europe. • Cyrillic Alphabet was different from Roman one - barrier to communication • Religion was Eastern Orthodox rather than RC or Protestant - (no Reformation). • Geography - Russia was landlocked. Archangel was the only port and it was frozen for 2/3 of the year.
We’re being invaded again Time of Troubles 1558-1613 Ivan’s dead that’s terrible I’m in charge now Another day another czar
Michael Romanov We’re here to stay • 1613 the National Assembly (DUMA) elected Michael Romanov as Czar. • The Dynasty lasted until 1917 - 300 years!
How the Romanovs became despots That Should give me control • Any groups that elected representatives were banned. • Old Believers who opposed religious changes were repressed • Made friends with the Cossacks. • Made serfdom the way of life for majority of people
Romanov Dynasty(1613-1917) Romanov Family Crest
Peter the Great 1682-1725 • He was a Russian giant - 6 feet 6 inches tall • Violent temper and was capable of great acts of cruelty • Strong willed and ruthless. • Absolute despot
Peter the Mechanic • Peter the great had an obsession with clocks
Westernization • He remodeled Russia along western European Lines • Reorganized his army and equipped it with better weapons. • War with Sweden 1700-1721 - gained access to the Baltic Sea. • In the new territory he built a new capital city. In 1703 he moved to St Petersburg - bringing the government closer to western Europe and giving him a “window to the west”
St Petersburg He moved the capital to the West of Russia
Changes made by Peter • Western dress was imposed on the nobles • Women no longer isolated - more rights • Biggest changes in trade, finance, industry, & govt. • Imposed taxes on everything - beards! • Followed absolutist ideas of French King - Louis XIV - highly centralized government. • Orthodox Church fell under his control • Created new service ranks for nobles • Imposed feudal system on Russia when it was declining in western Europe
Nobles required to work in these areas Experts to train the troops Uneducated nobles had to get an education Supply of troops War with Sweden Conscription Transportation developed Census Weapons for troops Mines & forges developed
Catherine the Great Catherine II 1762 - 1796
Queen by Marriage • Born Princess Sophia Augusta Frederika of Germany. • At 16 she married Peter the Great’s grandson who became Peter III in 1762 • He was murdered 6 months later by nobles • Catherine seized the throne and ruled until 1796
How did she become Great • Influenced by the West • She was a great supporter of the arts, science and theater. • Nobles become more western and start to speak French - lose touch with peasants • Nakaz - Code of 256 laws replaced Moscovite code of laws
Foreign Policy • In a war against the Turks she won control of northern shore of Black Sea and a protectorate over the Crimea. • Potemkin Villages - fake settlements to fool CII as to value of her new conquest. (term used by judges who dissent from common opinion) • 3 Partitions of Poland 1772,1793, 1795 she gained the largest slice of Poland for Russia, with Austria and Prussia also taking some. • In 1741 Russia had crossed the Bering Strait and established a colony in Alaska