Former Soviet Region Compared in Latitude & Area with the United States
Themes in Russian History Expansion by conquest. Need for warm-water ports. Strong, central government & attempts by Tsar (Czar) to take power from Boyars (nobility) Scary secret police!
Russia Review: Back in the Day Early on, Kievan Rus and Moscow-based Russia looked to Byzantium & Orthodoxy as strong powers Lots of fur trade
Early Byzantine Influences: Orthodox Christianity
Early Byzantine Influences: Cyrillic Alphabet
Early Russia Review Continued… Moscow rises in power after Kiev sacked by Mongols – late 1200s Moscow becomes center of power – 1300s
Russian Boyars (Nobility)
Ivan the Great (r ) Ivan III Tearing the Great Khan’s Letter Requesting More Tribute in 1480.He and Ivan IV (The Terrible) spread absolute power in Russia.
Russia in the Late 1500s Armies of Cossacks (peasant settlers) expanded Russian territory into Siberia
Michael Romanov (r ) Ivan IV (The Terrible) dies. Boyars try to reassert power Romanov family restores order as new tsars Time of Troubles
Romanov Dynasty ( ) Romanov Family Crest
Peter the Great (r )
Westernization Under Peter Looked to Europe as a modernizer – forced all Russian men to cut their beards! Built infrastructure Expanded territory – to Pacific! Reformed bureaucracy/took power from Boyars Relocated capital to St. Petersburg (in the WEST!) Built up a navy with help of western engineers
Catherine The Great German Princess married tsar. Had him killed Absolute ruler Expanded Russia’s borders – fighting with Ottomans for WARM WATER PORTS! Made serfdom law