Rise of Russia and Absolute Rule

Pre-Mongol Russia

The Mongols in Russia The Mongols controlled Kiev Rus for

over 2 centuries In 1480 Ivan the III or “The Great”

refused to pay a tribute to the Mongols– Over time joined all Russian states

together under his rule– Claimed Russia was now the “third

Rome”– “Father of Russian Empire”

Ivan the Great

•Consolidated lands through war, marriage, and purchase•Cossacks

Peasant Steppe warriors recruited to take new territories in exchange for freedom from serfdom.

•Became head of the church as well as head of the government

• Cossacks– Peasant Steppe warriors

recruited to take new territories in exchange for freedom from serfdom.

The First Czar Ivan the Terrible

– In 1533, Ivan the Terrible becomes king of Russia

– Struggles for power with boyars—landowning nobles.

– Seizes power and is crowned czar, meaning “caesar”

Rule by Terror– In 1560, Ivan turns against

boyars, kills them, seizes lands

Time of Trouble Ivan Executed

his oldest son– Leaves questions

about who will take the throne

- Rise of the Romanovs

- Ivan’s heir is weak, leading to period of turmoil- In 1613, Michael Romanov becomes czarRomanovs rule to 1917.

Peter the Great Comes to Power

The Rise of Peter– Peter the Great

becomes czar in 1696, begins to reform Russia

Russia Contrasts with Europe– Cut off geographically

from Europe– Culturally isolated,

little contact with western Europe

– Religious differences widen gap

Peter Rules Absolutely Peter Visits the West

– In 1697, Peter visits western Europe to learn European ways

Peter’s Goal– Goal of westernization—using western

Europe as a model for change Peter’s Reforms

– Brings Orthodox Church under state control– Reduces power of great landowners– Modernizes army by having European officers

train soldiers

Peter Rules Absolutely (continued)

Westernizing Russia– 1st Russian Navy– Starts Russia’s first newspaper– Raises women’s status– Adopts Western fashion

(cut Boyar beards)– Advances education

Peter Rules Absolutely (continued)

Establishing St. Petersburg– Peter wants a seaport that will make

travel to West easier.– Fights Sweden to win port on Baltic Sea– In 1703, begins building new capital

called St. Petersburg. (Window on the West)

– By the time of Peter’s death, Russia is force to be reckoned with in Europe

St. Petersburg, RussiaPeter’s “Window on the West”

Palace Square, St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg, RussiaPeter’s “Window to the West”

Russia’s Catherine II “the Great”

1762-1796•Embraced Enlightenment ideas

•New law code; almost•Extended control of cent. Gov’t•Supported Western art & architecture•Extended power of nobles over serfs•Added new territories• In the end: Russia = World’s greatest land empire

Serfdom in RussiaSerfdom spread as Russia

expanded

Serfdom in Russia

Serfdom in Russia

Serfdom in RussiaFinally abolished in 1861

Pugachev Rebellion1773-75

Cossack-led peasant revolt Significance = growing peasant

discontent and resistance. Revolt crushed, Pugachev killed,

reforms tightened against peasants/serfs.Yemelyan Pugachev

Russia’s Catherine II “the Great”

1762-1796

Critical Review QuestionsHow did the “Tatar Yoke” (period

of Mongol rule over Russia) contribute to Russia’s lag behind the West?

Critical Review QuestionsIn what ways was Catherine the

Great similar to Peter the Great?

Critical Review QuestionsExplain the win-win that the

expansion of serfdom provided for the Russian government.

Critical Review QuestionsWrite 2-3 statements comparing

Russian serfdom, Western European serfdom, chattel slavery of the Americas and indentured servitude.

Critical Review QuestionsConsidering the events of the

Pugachev Rebellion, make a couple observations about Russian society.

Critical Review QuestionsDBQ prompt: Analyze the

attitudes of the Russian government toward serfdom.

Tasks from “Decree on Serfs” 1767

1. annotate doc.2. write POV statement

Describe the common labor characteristics (using specific terms) in Russia, W. Europe, Americas and

Japan during period 4.

Critical Intro: