Russia

Russia

Historical Background

• 13th century, the Mongols from Asia invaded eastern Europe and ruled the eastern Slavs for over two centuries

• Eventually, princes of Moscow began to consolidate their own rule and replaced Mongol power

• Muscovy began to emerge as the most significant principality

Ivan III

• “Ivan the Great”• 1442-1505• Ended Mongol domination of Muscovy• Wanted to develop the center of the Orthodox

Church (“Third Rome”– Tsar became head of church

• Many Greek scholars, craftsmen, architects, and artists brought in

Ivan III

• Tsar claimed his absolute power was derived from divine right as ruler

• Struggled with the Russian boyars for power

Ivan IV

• “Ivan the Terrible”• 1553-1584• Grandson of Ivan III• First to take title as “tsar”

Ivan IV

• Territorial Expansion– Controlled the Black Sea Region– Gained huge territories in Far East– Gained territories in Baltic Region

• Westernizing– Encouraged trade with England and the

Netherlands

Wars

• For 25 years, he fought unsuccessful wars against Poland-Lithuania– Military obligations affected nobles and peasants– Left much of central Europe depopulated– Many peasants fled the west to form free groups

and outlaw armies in east

Boyars

• Ivan IV reduced power of the boyars– All nobles had to serve the tsar in order to keep

their land– Serfdom increased substantially to keep peasants

tied to noble lands– Many nobles were executed

“Time of Troubles”

• Followed Ivan IV’s death in 1584• Period of famine, power struggle, and war• Cossack band traveled north massacring

nobles and officials• Sweden and Poland conquered Moscow• Nobles elected Ivan’s grand-nephew as new

tsar (Michael Romanov)

Romanov Dynasty

• Lasted from the ascent of Michael Romanov in 1613 to the Russian Revolution in 1917

Michael Romanov

• 1613-1645• Favored nobles in return for support• Expanded Russian empire to the Pacific Ocean

in far east

Russian Society

• Continued to transform in 17th century• Nobles gained more exemptions from military

service• Rights of peasants declined• “Old Believers” of the Orthodox Church resisted

new religious sects (Lutheranism/Calvinism)• Western ideas gained ground• By 1689, Russia was world’s largest country

Peter the Great

• 1682-1725• His sister, Sophia, ruled as his regent early on

and tried to kill him (had her banished)

Peter the Great

• Military power was Peter’s greatest concern– Each village had to send recruits– 75% of national budget was spent on military– Establish royal, military, and artillery academies– All young male nobles had to serve 5 years of

compulsory education– Large navy built on the Baltic

Great Northern War

• 1700-1721• Russia (w/ Poland, Denmark, and Saxony) vs.

Sweden• Russia defeated Sweden• Treaty of Nystad (1721)– Russia gained Latvia and Estonia

Westernization

• Peter traveled to west to study technology and culture as a young man

• Sent western Technicians and Craftsmen to Russia

• Russia out produced England in iron production

St. Petersburg

• Sought to create a city similarly to Amsterdam and the Winter Palace with the grandeur of Versailles

• By his death, city was the largest in northern Europe

• Became capital of Russia• Peter ordered nobles to move to city

Impact of Peters’ Reign

• Modernized Russia– Modern military and state bureaucracy– Concept of interest in the state– Tsar began issuing explanations to his decrees to

gain popular support