Absolutism The “Sun King,” Ivan the Terrible, and the 7ft tall Peter the Great Side note: Czar and Tsar are the same

Empires and Absolutism How do empires develop? Why? What is absolutism? Is it ever necessary? Versailles, where Louis XIV was able to keep an eye on potential political opponents.

The Sun King Louis XIV: “I am the state.” Divine right of kings: king was God’s representative on earth obedience to king = obedience to God King could do no wrong “I almost had to wait.”

Louis XIV Rule Centralized control French became the language of diplomacy Versailles: the center of French Political life Revoked the Edict of Nantes (which gave rights to Calvinists- protestants) –Catholicism: only legal religion –200,000 Huguenots emigrated to England, Holland and North America Fought four wars to stop Hapsburg dominance in Europe– though, the tables turn!

Russian Absolutism

Russia Timeline Early Modern Period: : Much of Russia freed from Tatars by Ivan III (the Great) : Life of Ivan IV (the terrible) : Russian expansion in central Asia, western Siberia : Time of Troubles : Romanov dynasty 1649: Law enacted making serfdom hereditary : Reign of Peter the Great : Wars with Sweden 1703: Founding of St. Petersburg : Reign of Catherine the Great

Impact of the Mongols?

Impact of the Mongols Cultural life disentegrated under Mongol rule Isolation did not help either…Russia seen as “backward.” Missed out on Renaissance, and cultural/technological exchanges with East

“Third Rome” Ivan the Great repulsed the Mongols in 1462, and freed Moscow region Centralized rule  Absolutism Ivan married the niece of the last Byzantine Emperor- giving him power over Orthodox churches Took the title Tsar, Caesar, because Russia was to be the third Rome…but as we know sequels are never as good as the original “Autocrat of all the Russias”

Ivan the Terrible Earned his nickname by killing the Russian nobles (boyars) who he suspected of conspiracy and consolidated his power Employed “peasant adventurers,” Cossacks, to capture and settle new lands Rewarded loyal nobles with newly acquired land Used secret police to terrorize thousands Killed his oldest son and heir

Western Contact Ivan III launched diplomatic missions to the leading Western states Under Ivan IV, British merchants established trade with Russia, selling manufactured goods for furs and other raw materials. Early tsars also imported Italian artists and architects to design church buildings and the magnificent royal palace in the Kremlin in Moscow

Time of Troubles Ivan and his son Ivan, by Ilya Repin

The Romanov Dynasty Begins Nobles choose a member of the Romanov family as Tsar  Michael Romanov Tsars reestablished internal order and drove the invaders out, then began again the expansionist policies of the Muscovites

Russia is Westernized Peter I (The Great) stood nearly 7ft tall, but somehow inconspicuously ventured to Europe to witness the bustle of the West for himself. He even took a job as a carpenter for a short while. –Felt that the only hope for Russia was to copy European technology and administrative techniques –In 1698, launched ambitious political, economic, military and educational reforms –Established St. Petersburg as the capital, modeled on Amsterdam and Venice (but a lot colder). Enlisted Italian and French to help design his summer palace –Banned beards (shaved them off of the nobles himself) –Implored women to wear westernized clothes and styles …But did not change peasant practices… in fact, he enslaved more peasants to the land—serfdom

Other Social Programs Started a specially trained fighting force Created first Russian navy Revised the tax system, which steadily increased taxes for the peasants To improve the economy and the military, Peter focused on building up metallurgical and mining industries Encouraged serfdom by rewarding landlords for using serf labor

Westernization…Well, kind of RussiaWest Serf Labor, Peasants losing power Wage-labor (beginning), Peasants gaining power Boyars had very little powerParliament making gains Economic development to support military Worldwide export and import for commercial profit Westernization to strengthen autocratic state Culture influenced by trade

Expansion Fought The Great Northern War to gain eastern rim of the Baltic Possibly the most important expansion was to the Southwest towards the Black Sea in order to gain a warm water port and a link to the Mediterranean…

Response to Westernization Hostile! –Peasants resented westernized expenses of landlords (some of whom only spoke French!) –Many argued that Russian traditions were superior to the West Positive –Women (upper class) loved Peter’s ambitious changes

Death of Peter the Great 1724