1. 21.4: Absolute Rulers of Russia

2. Russia Today

3. Former Soviet Region Compared in Latitude & Area with the United States

4. Russia’s Time Zones

5. Topography of Russia

6. Rich Soil of the Steppes

7. I. Early Russia A. Slavs and Vikings 800s, Vikings settle among Slavs
- cultures mix
central location Kiev
trade w/ Byzantine Empire
- convert to Orthodox Christianity
- adopt Cyrillic alphabet

8. Early Byzantine Influences: Orthodox Christianity

9. Early Byzantine Influences: Cyrillic Alphabet

10. B. Kievan Russia
Vladimir rules
- expands North to Baltic Sea and west to Poland
ruled by Yaroslav the Wise
- forms alliances
- establishes legal codes
- builds churches

11. C. Kiev Declines
Yaroslav divides land amongst sons  civil war
weakened by the Crusades
D. Mongol Rule
1200s: nomads from central Asia, begin conquests
Mongols rule much of Russia for next 200 years
give many freedoms  demand obedience, tribute [tax]
nobles support Mongols  provide strong, central gov’t

12. The Mongols Invade Russia

13. E. Russia Breaks Free
1100s: Moscow founded
1300s: Ivan I moves leading bishop to Moscow
- gains respect
1400s: Ivan III prince
- declares himself czar [Caesar]
- challenges Mongol rule
- armies meet  no fighting  Mongols retreat  Russia freed

14. II. The First Czar Ivan the Terrible (czar from 1533-1584)
1533: Ivan the Terrible king of Russia
power struggles w/ boyars —landowning nobles
1560: Ivan turns against boyars, kills them, seizes land
B. Rise of the Romanovs
heir is weak, leading to period of turmoil turmoil

17. 21.4: Absolute Rulers of Russia

18. Characteristics of Absolute Monarchs – Review
divine right claims - king chosen by God
attempts to control ALL in realm - religion, gov’t, social interaction
control over all finances
- decides how to spend $
- taxes, tariffs, colonies
massive bureaucracies
- citizens in gov’t positions [paid by state]
standing [full time] armies
- benefits vs. burdens

19. III. Peter the Great Comes to Power
The Rise of Peter
becomes czar in 1696, begins to reform Russia
B. Russia Contrasts with Europe
cut off geographically [landlocked nation]
culturally isolated, little contact w/ outside world
religious differences

20. III. Peter Rules Absolutely
Peter and Westernization
1697: visits western Europe to learn ways
returns with goal for Russia
- westernization—using western Europe as a model for change
Peter’s Reforms
- limits power of Orthodox Church [state controlled]
- reduces power of strong landowners
- modernizes army  European officers train soldiers
- simplified alphabet to ease communication and educate nobles

21. B. Westernizing Russia
forced Europeanization of upper classes
increase military supply production  factories, iron and copper mining
brought European specialists [craftsmen, artists, engineers] to teach
Russia’s first newspaper
increased taxes
adopts Western fashion
- i.e. shave beards or pay a tax

22. C. Establishing St. Petersburg
wants warm-water ports on Baltic Sea
- easier to travel to Europe
- fights Sweden to gain access
1703: begins building new capital called St. Petersburg (window to Europe)
- takes many years
-many serfs die [“city built on bones”]

24. 1705

25. 1717

26. 1720s

27. Today

30. “English Embankment,” St. Petersburg, Russia

31. Palace Square, St. Petersburg

32. Church of the Savior on Spilt Blood, St. Petersburg, Russia