Age of Absolutism: Russia

Russian Isolation Prior 1480, under Mongol rule for 200 yrs Western civilization reached Russia through Byzantine Empire Eastern Orthodox religion Cyrillic alphabet Virtually landlocked; no rivers flow to seas that hosted trade routes (or were frozen in winter)

Evolution of a “Western” Monarchy Czar Ivan IV the Terrible; absolute monarch; dies 1584 Period of nobility unrest/invasions by neighboring countries; national assembly elects Michael Romanov (grandnephew of Ivan IV) Romanovs were a large, powerful family from Moscow of the 1300s

Romanov Dynasty Romanovs strengthen absolutism in Russia Suppressed all protests Brought groups such as the south Russian Cossacks under their rule Developing into a power Peter I the Great becomes czar in 1682 Shared the throne with half brother and half sister until 1689; he becomes sole leader of Russia

Peter I the Great Ruled Russia until 1725 Believed Russia needed to become more like Europe (more “Western”) Major goal: acquire warm-water port Looking to the Sea of Azov or Black Sea Both controlled by Ottoman Empire Needs stronger army Needs Europe’s help

Peter I the Great 1697 Peter secretly goes to western Europe Tries to negotiate alliance but not successful Does meet with scientists and artisans Learns many western customs Works in Dutch shipyard to learn shipbuilding Returns to Russia, reorganizes army following French model 1700 starts war with Sweden, looking for port along Baltic Sea; wins war in 1721; declares Russia to be an empire

Peter I the Great St. Petersburg; Peter builds completely new city following western plans and architecture, 1703 Moves capital city from Moscow to St. Petersburg 1712; represents new, western Russia

Peter I the Great Social changes Women have more freedoms/role in society Nobles must shave long beards; dress in western style Changes in government administration Encouraged local industry and foreign trade Ended arranged marriages Changed from the Russian calendar to the Julian

Peter I the Great Followed absolutist ideals of Louis XIV Control the nobility “service nobility” – noble’s rank depended upon service to the czar-called Table of Ranks; granted large estates with 1000s of serfs for service Increase number of serfs; bound now to land and lord; conditions worsen Lord is now bound to czar; required to maintain home in St. Petersburg Orthodox Church comes under his control Peter crowns his 2nd wife Catherine as Empress 1724; Peter dies 1725

Romanov Dynasty Peter I the Great dies Catherine I (wife) takes throne Born to peasant family Never learned to read/write Reigned for two years First woman to rule imperial Russia

The Road to Catherine II the Great

Catherine II the Great Supported the arts, including art, science, literature, and theater Believed in western European ideals of enlightened political reform Considered political reforms Considered law changes to make all citizens equal

Catherine II the Great Depended upon the support of the nobility Did not enact any reforms to keep their support Focused on the strength of Russia and territory expansion Looks to expand to the east & west

Catherine II the Great Westward Expansion: Kingdom of Poland:, large country in central Europe; Polish nobles having trouble electing a king, also weakened over ethnic and religious differences Looked to Prussia, Austria, and Russia for help They take advantage of the situation, 1772 seized land from Poland in series of “Partitions”, Russia takes the majority portion 1795, last partition, Poland ceases to exist and Russia is a major European power

Catherine II the Great Eastward Expansion: Russian settlers gradually moved eastward, particularly the Cossacks Previously captured Mongol city of Sibir gives Russia access to Siberia with wealth of natural resources; increases power Rich fur trade, built posts for trade and defense Previous treaty with China opens trade there By 1841 crossed Bering Strait into No. Am.; later expands southward

Catherine II the Great Russia now reached well into Central Europe all the way through to North America Russia now has to be considered in Europe’s “balance of power” Dies 1796