Russia Brief History of an Empire 1450s to 1700s
RussiaBrief History of an Empire
1450s to 1700s
CULTURAL & POLITICAL INFLUENCES on RUSSIA
Slavic, Viking, European and Central Asian cultural influences
Parts of Asian Russia had converted to Islam
Orthodox Christianity was eventually dominant.
Early Russia & Mongol Invasion
In the 600s-1200s, feudal warlords were loosely organized into what was called Kievan Rus.
The Mongols invaded and Russia became part of the Mongol Empire from the 1200s to 1400s.
1240-1480 Mongol Rule
After the Mongols withdrew (or were
they defeated?), a kingdom centered around Moscow had begun.
Russia 1450 - 1690
The first TSARS (or Czars) worked to:
gain power over the boyars (nobles)
Improve their military
Russia 1450 – 1600s
Conflicts over the rule of Russia between powerful boyar families led to a series of civil wars and outside invasions.
The Romanovs
The Romanov Dynasty began in 1613, when Russian independence was restored (lasting to 1914).
The power of the Tsars increased – toward ABSOLUTISM
Councils of Russian nobles were eliminated
Trained bureaucrats came from the “lower classes”
The secret police & the Tsar’s special forces suppressed rebellion.
Russia became one of the great land empires 1500s-1800.
Russian armies took control of new territories.
“Pioneers” expanded Russian territorial control
The Russian Empire, like Euro Maritime Empires, . . .
Expanded for profit, to spread Christianity, and gain power.
Had a powerful military with gunpowder weapons
Demanded tax (tribute or yasak) from conquered peoples (furs)
Oversaw the development of new territories through settlers
The Russian Empire, UNLIKE Euro Maritime Empires,
was NOT a distinct European state before it built its empire
conquered some regions for “security”
conquered regions “close” to their heartland
absorbed conquered people or “Russified” them
Was less intense in its efforts at converting natives to Christianity.
Russian interaction with . . .
Ottoman Empire, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia
Russian war victories led to territorial gains (especially Poland and around the Caspian sea)
China – mutual agreement on boundaries
Russian interaction with . . .
• Western Europe – Westerners
carried on much of the trade in
Russia, Western styles from
architecture to the military were
mimicked in Russia, but Russia
remained politically isolated from
Western Europe.
New Openness to the West 1689-1725 Tsar Peter the Great
Forced Westernization
Modernized the army, built a navy, and continued expansion
Instituted an educational system and offered freedom for women.
•Pushed for
Western dress,
architecture,
science &
•Shaved BEARDS!
Allowed mobility in government based upon merit
Built St. Petersburg as a new capital
Organized and modernized trade and commerce.
Reform, then Repression:1762-1796 Catherine the Great(Tsarina)
Continued expansion and westernization
Was initially open to social reforms as an “Enlightened Despot”
The French Revolution & rebellion at home caused her to become more oppressive
However, Russia remained a traditional
agricultural society.
Nobles continued to control the lower classes.– Serfdom was expanded and rural
peasants suffered
– Little freedom was offered to the lower classes
Social unrest and revolt was common