THE THIRTY YEARS WAR

Section 3

The Thirty Years’ WarHRE by 17th century patchwork of

small statesReligion was the original cause1618- Began in Bohemia,

Catholic Hapsburg king tried to suppress Protestant revolt

Local conflict became general war

HRE supported by Catholic statesProtestant powers sent troopsFought all across Germany, led to

1/3 of pop. dyingRuined German trade and

agriculture

The Thirty Years’ WarEnded in 1648 with the Peace of

Westphalia1. Weakened Hapsburg Spain and Austria2. Made France the most powerful country in

Europe3. Ended religious wars in Europe4. Introduced new method of settling disputes,

where participants decide terms of peace5. Treaty recognized European countries as

equals and was the beginning of the modern state system

ABSOLUTE RULERS OF RUSSIA

Section 4

Absolute Rulers of Russia1463-1505 Ivan III first

strong ruler of Russia1. Conquered territory

around Moscow2. Centralized the

government3. Liberated Russia from

Mongol rule1554 Ivan’s grandson

Ivan IV became Russia’s first czar

Absolute Rulers of RussiaIvan became czar when he was 3 years

oldEarly life he competed for power with the

boyars (Russia’s landowning nobles)When he was 16 he seized power for

good1560 his wife dies and Ivan accused the

boyars of poisoning herBecame known as Ivan the TerribleHe organized a secret police force to

hunt down and murder people that did not agree with him

He took the boyars estates and gave them to people that were loyal to him

Absolute Rulers of Russia1581 Ivan kills his son and heir in an

argumentIvan died three years later that left his

younger less competent son as ruler of RussiaAfter his son died there was a period of

turmoil in RussiaBoyars struggled for power1613 representatives from many Russian

cities chose the next czar, Michael Romanov (who was related to Ivan’s wife)

Began the Romanov dynasty that ruled Russia for the next three hundred years

Absolute rulers of RussiaRussia Contrasts with the Rest of EuropeRussia was a land of boyars and serfs

◦ Landowners needed serfs to work on the lad to produce harvests

◦ Serfs were seen as property, they were sold when the land was sold

◦ Serfs were also given as presents and to pay debts

Most boyars looked to Constantinople not to Rome for religious guidance◦ Most Russians were Eastern Orthodox not Catholic

or ProtestantsMongol rule had cut off Russia from the Age

of Exploration and the RenaissanceGeographic barriers isolated Russia, its only

seaport was frozen in ice most of the year

Absolute Rulers of RussiaPeter the Great comes to Power Romanov’s restored order to Russia Passed new law codes and put down

revolts 1696 Peter I becomes ruler of Russia

(known as Peter the Great), he continued the trend of increasing the czars power

Peter believed the future of Russia depended on the country having a warm water port to compete with the rest of Europe

1697 Peter leaves to tour Western Europe to learn European customs and manufacturing techniques (he traveled in disguise to keep his identity secret)

Absolute Rulers of RussiaPeter came back from his trip to

“westernize” Russia (adoption of Western European ideas, technology, culture)

Russia would compete military and commercially with other European countries

To bring changes to Russia Peter became an absolute ruler◦ He reduced the power of the boyars◦ Gave power to lower ranking families,

and gave them grants of land◦ Modernized army, hired officers, used

weapons and tactics from other European countries

Absolute Rulers of Russia Other attempts to “westernize” Russia

included:1. Introduction of potatoes, became a

staple of the Russian diet2. Raised the status of women3. Ordered nobles to give up traditional

styles of clothing and dress for European fashions

4. Opened universities to promote arts, sciences and navigation

• Peter thought that education was the key to advance Russia

5. Promoted mercantilist policies6. Improved waterways, roads,

developed industryHad no mercy for those that resisted his orders

Absolute Rulers of RussiaPeter wanted a seaport to open trade with the westFought a 21 year war with Sweden to gain port on

Baltic SeaBefore war was over Peter began to construct the city

of St. Petersburg Built on a desolate swamp used the labor and lives of

50,000 serfsOrdered nobles to move to capital from Moscow1725 Peter dies and leaves Russia as European power