Rise of Russia and Absolute Rule
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: