Post on 23-Dec-2015
Russian Empire, Chapter 181450-1800(ish)
End of the Mongols
Romanov Dynasty
Westernizing Russia: Peter and Catherine
Eastern Europe
Mongols fighting the Russians at the Battle of the Kalka River. Ended Kievan Russia rule of modern day Russia.
Regional Responses in Western Eurasia
Russia and Rule from Afar• The Golden Horde used Russian princes to tax the
people and kept the Orthodox Church in place.• Favored Prince Alexander of Novogorod because he
had aided in the Mongol conquest of Russia.• Moscow emerged as the new center of the Russian
civilization under the Tatars (Mongols, sort of).• Structure of government did not change under
Mongol rule.• In 1480 Ivan III (“the Great”, not “the Terrible”), the
prince of Moscow, ended Mongol rule and adopted the title of Tsar.
Ivan III “the Great” – First Russian prince to fight the Golden Horde. He adopted the title of Tsar.
Ivan the Terrible
• Ivan IV• “Ruled” 1533-
1584• Grand prince of
Moscow at age 3• Violent youth
– Mother died (poisoned?)
Ivan the Terrible
• Boyars (Russian nobles) ruled terribly in 1530’s
• Ivan named Tsar of Russia 1547
Ivan the Terrible
• Married 7 times• Mental problems
– Cruel– Drank a lot
Russian Nobility
• Ivan weakened power of Russian nobility
• Boyars began to lose power anyway……..
Russian Nobility
……to newer nobles
Dvoranye – granted land by the tsar in return for service to him
Ivan’s Rule
• Masters ruled over peasants
• Streltsy formed to enforce state policy
• Raw materials exported to foreign countries
• Agriculture improved
“The Gathering of Russia”
• Drove out the Mongols
• Gained control of southeastern Russia
Russian Empire Expands
Ivan’s Terror
• Oprichniky (elite guard)
• Confiscated boyar property and gave it to the guard
• 60,000 Russians killed in Novgorod when town plotted against him
• Killed his son (spear in the face)
• No heir left
“The Time of Troubles”
• Ivan the Terrible dead in 1584, no real heir
• Civil war• Peasants revolted• Poland invaded in 1610 (Catholics)• Boyars wanted order and peace
back• Sooo……..
Michael Romanov is “elected” tsar, 1613
• Distant relative of Ivan’s 1st wife
• Young• Poor health• Non-threatening
Michael Romanov
• His heir was Alexis• Restored imperial
power• Conceded to the
nobles on military service
• 1649 legalized serfdom (poor peasants)
Northern Russian Architecture, XVIIth Century, Kizhi
Russian Architecture, XVIth - XVIIIth Centuries
The Romanov Dynasty
MIKHAILFEODOROVICH 1613-1645
ALEXEI MIKHAILOVICH 1645-1676
FEODOR ALEXEEVICH 1676-1682
IVAN V (IVAN ALEXEEVICH) 1682-1696
SOFIAALEXEEVNA 1682-1689
PETER THE GREATEMPEROR OF ALL RUSSIA 1721-1725
CATHERINE I 1725-1727
PETER II1727-1730
ANNA IVANOVNA 1730-1740
IVAN VI1740-1741
ELIZAVETA PETROVNA 1741-1761
PETER III1761-1762
CATHERINE THE GREAT 1762-1796
PAUL I1796-1801
ALEXANDER I 1801-1825
NICHOLAS I 1825-1855
ALEXANDER II 1855-1881
ALEXANDER III
1881-1894 NICHOLAS II
1894-1917
Peter The Great1689 - 1725
• Transformed Russian Society to its foundation• Military reform: Russia was at war in every year of Peter’s reign but one• Peter ordered thousands of Church bells to be melt down and made into
cannons and cannonballs• His army numbered more than 200,000 regular troops, the largest in Europe• He built ships and had 28,000 sailors• Built St. Petersburg, a new capital of Russia• Placed Church under control of Holy Synod, a secular office
• Peter defeated the Swedes in the battle of Poltava in 1709, obtained territory on the Baltic coast, and marked the emergence of Russia as a military power in Europe
• Developed economy and created a better, more enlightened administration• Introduced sweeping government reforms, using western European models: a
Senate was created with “Twelve colleges”/ministries• Foreign trade increased by 400%• Introduced new taxes• Decreed to shave beards, westernized clothes, encouraged learning foreign
languages
“Window on the West”
• Why was St. Petersberg located where it was? (Hint: what is the nature of most of Russia’s sea-water access?)
• What is the idea behind having a “window on the West?”
Peter I in 1716
Summer Palace of Peter the Great
In 1703 Peter said,“ Here shall be a town.”
Peter I Bust in CopenhagenGrand Palace and Fountains in
Petrodvorets
St. Petersburg –A Window on the West
Peter the Great The AdmiraltySt. Peter & Paul Fortress
Vasilievsky Island – The place of original Peter the Great’s Port More Views
Kunstcamera, Peter’s First Museum
Reigned: 1762-1796Born in GermanyMarried Peter III in 1745 Great intelligence, strong willPassionate and clever womanTurned her romances to the advantage of the state
Catherine the Great
The Bronze Horseman
On the Shore by the desolate waves
He stood, with lofty thoughts,
And gaze into the distance…
Alexander Pushkin (1833)
Catherine II to Peter I
They both admired Western Culture
Peter had practical nature: imported western technology
Shipbuilding fascinated Peter
Catherine was interested in culture and ideas. She built palaces and purchased grand collections of art
Catherine corresponded with French philosophers Voltaire and Rousseau. She also was the author of essays, plays, poems and music.
Peter was traveling in Europe as a workman learning shipbuilding, navigation, geometry,dentistry, and carpentry.
Palaces of St. Petersburg, XVIIIth - XIXth Centuries
St. Petersburg & Peterhof, XVIIIth - XIXth Centuries
Publication of books increased from 600
during Peter the Great’s reign to 7,500
Built Smolny Institute for noblewomen
Founded Odessa, a southern port and
stronghold on the Black sea
Established Russian Academy of Science
Ended the initial concord between the
empress and the writers
Signed the execution sentence of
Alexander Radishchev for his pamphlet
Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow, in
which he described the evils of serfdom.
Ended Pugachev rebellion in blood
Peter the Great had ended the threat to
Russia from Sweden,and Catherine did
the same from the Ottoman Empire and
Poland
Expanded Russian territories: annexed
most of Poland, the Crimea,and the
Northern Caucasus
Confirmed and strengthened gentry’s
ownership of land and serfs. Peasants
were serfs since XVIth century.
Seized Church lands for state needs
Emancipated Nobility from compulsory
state service, and granted freedom from
taxation
Catherine the Great
“My aim is to do good…to bring happiness freedom and
well being to my subjects”
What about Eastern Europe?
• Similarities– Serfdom– Eastern Orthodoxy– Looking to the
“Roman” model (sort of)
– Autocracy
• Differences– More Western contacts– Smaller states– Often at war with or
dominated by Russia