The Russian Empire Robbie Garner, Stephanie Reynolds, Sarah Tepper, and Linda Wang.

The Russian Empire

Robbie Garner, Stephanie Reynolds, Sarah Tepper,

and Linda Wang

Background

Princes of Moscow began to expand their holdings as early as the mid-fourteenth century.

From their small commercial town of Moscow, the princes received new territories by war, marriage, and even out right purchase.

By the mid-fifteenth century, the state of Moscow was the most powerful of several Russian provinces under Mongol rule.

Expansion of the Russian Expansion of the Russian EmpireEmpire

In 1480, Ivan the third, the grand In 1480, Ivan the third, the grand prince of Moscow stopped prince of Moscow stopped paying tribute to the Mongol paying tribute to the Mongol khan.khan.

After that, he declared Russian After that, he declared Russian independence from the Mongol independence from the Mongol rule.rule.

Ivan acquired a vast amount of Ivan acquired a vast amount of land that almost tripled the land that almost tripled the Russian empire in size as he Russian empire in size as he brought Russian speaking brought Russian speaking people under his control.people under his control.

The most important addition of The most important addition of land was the prosperous trading land was the prosperous trading city of Novgorod in the 1470’s.city of Novgorod in the 1470’s.

Peasants known as Cossacks played an enormous role in the expansion of the Russian empire, particularly the steppe lands to the south.

During the sixteenth century, the Cossacks conquered the Volga River Valley and moved across the Ural Mountains into Siberia.

PoliticalPoliticalIvan the 3rd drew his Ivan the 3rd drew his

inspiration for a inspiration for a centralized government centralized government from the Byzantine from the Byzantine Empire. He even used the Empire. He even used the Byzantine symbol of the Byzantine symbol of the double-headed eagle as double-headed eagle as the emblem of the Russian the emblem of the Russian empire. empire.

Like the Byzantine emperors, Like the Byzantine emperors, he ruled as the head of he ruled as the head of state as well as the head state as well as the head of the church, stating that of the church, stating that he derived his authority he derived his authority directly from god.directly from god.

Ivan the TerribleIvan the TerribleIvan the Terrible began to rule when he Ivan the Terrible began to rule when he

was 16. He was the grandson of Ivan was 16. He was the grandson of Ivan the 3rd. When he began his rule, he the 3rd. When he began his rule, he married into the powerful and married into the powerful and ambitious boyar clan of the Romanovs. ambitious boyar clan of the Romanovs.

In 1564, he abdicated the throne in a In 1564, he abdicated the throne in a highly sensational fashion, claiming highly sensational fashion, claiming that the boyars prevented him from that the boyars prevented him from governing effectively.governing effectively.

He agreed to come back on the condition He agreed to come back on the condition that he receive power to deal with the that he receive power to deal with the treacherous boyars, as well as treacherous boyars, as well as complete control over a vast portion of complete control over a vast portion of Muscuvite territory that he called the Muscuvite territory that he called the “oprichnina”, the land apart.“oprichnina”, the land apart.

This new power allowed Ivan to confiscate This new power allowed Ivan to confiscate large estates and redistribute them large estates and redistribute them among his supporters among his supporters

Peter the GreatPeter the GreatPeter gladly allowed his half Peter gladly allowed his half

sister Sophia to rule for him. sister Sophia to rule for him. When he grew older, he When he grew older, he enforced politics and enforced politics and maneuvered Sophia out of maneuvered Sophia out of position. By 1689, he had position. By 1689, he had established himself as tsar.established himself as tsar.

Peter instituted a policy of Peter instituted a policy of forced and rapid forced and rapid modernization. modernization.

He wanted Russia to match He wanted Russia to match Western Europe Western Europe achievements in science. achievements in science.

He worked to establish Russian He worked to establish Russian industries based on the most industries based on the most advanced science and advanced science and technology available. technology available.

Peter also created a military, Peter also created a military, bureaucratic and social bureaucratic and social reform. reform.

Catherine the GreatCatherine the GreatUnder Catherine the Great, Under Catherine the Great,

nobles gained a free hand nobles gained a free hand over their estates ad their over their estates ad their serfs. In exchange for noble serfs. In exchange for noble support, she granted support, she granted extensive control over their extensive control over their own domains. This greatly own domains. This greatly strengthened tsarist authority. strengthened tsarist authority.

Catherine II worked to increase Catherine II worked to increase the effectiveness of the tsarist the effectiveness of the tsarist administration. She administration. She organized Russia into 50 organized Russia into 50 administrative provinces, administrative provinces, each supervised by a each supervised by a governor general. She sought governor general. She sought to devise policies that would to devise policies that would improve the subjects lives improve the subjects lives without distracting from her without distracting from her own power and authority. own power and authority.

SocialSocial

Before Westernization, agricultural Before Westernization, agricultural society revolved around the peasant society revolved around the peasant village.village.

The peasants lived in extended The peasants lived in extended families and the male heads of the families and the male heads of the households met periodically to make households met periodically to make decisions for the entire village.decisions for the entire village.

They distributed lands according to the They distributed lands according to the needs of individual families.needs of individual families.

Gender RolesGender Roles

Women in peasant communities did Women in peasant communities did domestic chores and arranged domestic chores and arranged marriages.marriages.

Unlike women in most other countries, Unlike women in most other countries, Russian women retained control of Russian women retained control of dowries after marriage and enjoyed dowries after marriage and enjoyed more financial independence than more financial independence than women elsewhere. women elsewhere.

Serfdom

Most peasants were serfs tied to lands owned by nobles, the monarchy, or monasteries.

With the expansion of the empire, noble landowners constantly pressured the tsars to limit serfs rights to move off the land or marry.

In 1649, the government passed a law code that placed serfs under the control of the landowners. Even though serfs were not slaves, landowners often sold them as if they were private property.

Social OrderSocial Order

The law code passed in 1649 established a rigid, The law code passed in 1649 established a rigid, castelike social order.castelike social order.

The law code required merchants and artisans to The law code required merchants and artisans to register their children into their father’s register their children into their father’s professions and to introduce them into the family professions and to introduce them into the family trade.trade.

It also established a hierarchy of nobles that It also established a hierarchy of nobles that included the fifty-two boyar families who owed included the fifty-two boyar families who owed political and military services to the state.political and military services to the state.

Nobles had the right to deploy laborers, levy taxes Nobles had the right to deploy laborers, levy taxes on serfs, and administer punishments through on serfs, and administer punishments through courts they controlled. courts they controlled.

EducationEducationPeter and Catherine introduced much Western European art, literature and Peter and Catherine introduced much Western European art, literature and

ideas. One example is the emergence of Russian ballet, which is still a ideas. One example is the emergence of Russian ballet, which is still a present day Russian identity.present day Russian identity.

In 1714, Peter created an elementary school system that taught science, In 1714, Peter created an elementary school system that taught science, math, reading and writing. Tens years later, academies of advanced math, reading and writing. Tens years later, academies of advanced instruction started to appear. instruction started to appear.

Catherine added on to Peter’s work by expanding Peter’s elementary Catherine added on to Peter’s work by expanding Peter’s elementary school system and opening to first Russian school for girls.school system and opening to first Russian school for girls.

Catherine also encouraged Russian literature. Her encouragement of Catherine also encouraged Russian literature. Her encouragement of cultural expansion facilitated the emergence of an intellectual class cultural expansion facilitated the emergence of an intellectual class known as the intelligentsia. known as the intelligentsia.

The outbreak of the French Revolution let to a speedy end to the The outbreak of the French Revolution let to a speedy end to the intellectual and cultural experimentation in Russia. In fear of rebellion, intellectual and cultural experimentation in Russia. In fear of rebellion, Catherine severed all ties with Western Europe. The policy of Catherine severed all ties with Western Europe. The policy of westernization lost imperial sponsorship and momentum, but western westernization lost imperial sponsorship and momentum, but western European ideas continued to make their way to Russia. European ideas continued to make their way to Russia.

Economic In the mid-sixteenth century, an

English expedition made its way into the White Sea.

Tsar Ivan IV escorted the crew to Moscow, opening Russia to European trade.

Archangel, a port in the northern Russia, became a prosperous city for trade between Europeans and Russians.

Asian Trade

As Russians expanded into Asian lands, they began to trade with merchants from Safavid Persia, the Ottoman empire, and Mughal India.

The Volga and other rivers connected Russia to Islamic society.

Astrakhan, a city along the Volga, became a flourishing trading center. It was home to about two hundred foreign merchants.

Trading RestrictionsTrading Restrictions

Foreign merchants were resented by Russian Foreign merchants were resented by Russian merchants. As a result, tsars only allowed merchants. As a result, tsars only allowed foreigners to trade in approved areas. foreigners to trade in approved areas. Foreign merchants were not allowed to sell Foreign merchants were not allowed to sell profitable commodities (i.e. alcohol and profitable commodities (i.e. alcohol and tobacco), either.tobacco), either.

Many foreign merchants ignored the Many foreign merchants ignored the restrictions. Some bribed their way restrictions. Some bribed their way around them. Others allied with Russians around them. Others allied with Russians to conduct business with local partners.to conduct business with local partners.

ReligiousReligiousRussia looked to Orthodox Greek and eastern Europe Russia looked to Orthodox Greek and eastern Europe

for religious influence. for religious influence. Ceremonies were important to the Russian church Ceremonies were important to the Russian church

because they sought enlightenment in groups or because they sought enlightenment in groups or communities.communities.

Reformers attempted to standardize ritual practices Reformers attempted to standardize ritual practices and reform them to reflect the most accurate texts and reform them to reflect the most accurate texts and most authentic practices.and most authentic practices.

In the mid-seventeenth century, Nikon, the patriarch of In the mid-seventeenth century, Nikon, the patriarch of Moscow and leader of the reformists, established Moscow and leader of the reformists, established schools and institutions in Latin and Greek and built schools and institutions in Latin and Greek and built Byzantine-style churches. Byzantine-style churches.

This led to a deep schism in the Russian church. This led to a deep schism in the Russian church. Important points of controversy included the Important points of controversy included the reformists insisting that the sign of the cross be reformists insisting that the sign of the cross be made with three fingers rather than two. made with three fingers rather than two.

Crisis in the ChurchCrisis in the ChurchThe priest Avvakum led a group of The priest Avvakum led a group of

religious conservatives and tried religious conservatives and tried to restore traditional practices. to restore traditional practices. They believed that that reformed They believed that that reformed rituals would endanger their rituals would endanger their chances at eternal salvation. They chances at eternal salvation. They associated all evil with the tsar associated all evil with the tsar who supported Nikons beliefs.who supported Nikons beliefs.

Avvakums sectarianism was known Avvakums sectarianism was known as Old Belief, and was outlawed as Old Belief, and was outlawed by the tsarist government. As a by the tsarist government. As a result, Avvakum was burned at result, Avvakum was burned at the stake.the stake.

This separation of the old and new This separation of the old and new

beliefs weakened the Russian beliefs weakened the Russian Orthodox church and detracted Orthodox church and detracted from the authority of religious from the authority of religious leaders. leaders.

Between the sixteenth and seventeenth Between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, tsars progressively increased centuries, tsars progressively increased their control over the church until Peter their control over the church until Peter the Great eventually made a department the Great eventually made a department of religious affairs in his government.of religious affairs in his government.

Large monasteries formed centers of Large monasteries formed centers of learning and wielded considerable political learning and wielded considerable political influence. Some even served as military influence. Some even served as military bases during periods of civil stress.bases during periods of civil stress.

BibliographyBibliography

Bentley, Jerry, and Herbert Ziegler. Bentley, Jerry, and Herbert Ziegler. Traditions and Traditions and EncountersEncounters. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003.. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003.

Info Please. “Russia.” Info Please. “Russia.” InfoPlease.comInfoPlease.com. 1 Feb. 2008. . 1 Feb. 2008. InfoPlease. 1 Feb. 2008 InfoPlease. 1 Feb. 2008 <http://www.infoplease.com/ ipa/ A0107909.html><http://www.infoplease.com/ ipa/ A0107909.html>

US Department of State. “Background Note: US Department of State. “Background Note: Russia.” Russia.” Bureau of European and Eurasian AffairsBureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. . Sept. 2007. US Department of State. 1 Feb. 2008 Sept. 2007. US Department of State. 1 Feb. 2008 <http://www.state.gov/ r/ pa/ ei/ bgn/ 3183.htm>.<http://www.state.gov/ r/ pa/ ei/ bgn/ 3183.htm>.