1. Russian Czars Increase Power

2. Ivan III 1462-1505 Laid foundation for absolute monarchy
Conquered territory around Moscow
Liberated Russia from Mongols
Centralized Russian government
Succeeded by son Vasily – his son, Ivan IV

3. Ivan IV 3 yrs. old when he came to throne
During early years, boyars fought for power and control of Ivan
At 16 he seized power for himself; crowned himself czar
Married Anastasia, related to old Romanov boyar family

4. Ivan’s Good Period 1547- 1560 Victories Added land
Gave Russia a law code
Ruled justly

5. Ivan’s Bad Period after 1560
Anastasia died; Ivan accused boyars of poisoning her and he turned against the boyars
He organized his own police force to hunt down traitors; they dressed in black and rode black horses; executed many boyars and peasants – known as the oprichniki
He seized boyar lands and gave it to a new class of nobles loyal to him
Ivan killed his oldest son in 1581 during a quarrel

6. “Time of Troubles” Ivan’s remaining son was left to rule
He was mentally and physically weak; incapable of ruling
He died without an heir
Russia went into a time of turmoil as boyars struggled for power
Heirs of czars died mysteriously; imposters tried to claim the throne

7. Rise of the Romanovs
1613: Russian city representatives met to choose a new czar
They chose Michael Romanov- grandnephew of Ivan’s wife, Anastasia
Romanov dynasty ruled for 300 years
The Romanov’s restored order to Russia; paved way for absolute rule

8. Peter the Great of Russia
He shared rule at first with feeble- minded half –brother
1696: became sole ruler
Russia was a land of boyars and serfs when Peter took the throne

9. Russia’s Contrast to Europe
Serfdom lasted longer in Russia than Western Europe (mid- 1800s)
Serfs in Russia sold with the land – could be presents or payments of debt
Mongol rule had cut Russia off from the Renaissance and Age of Exploration
Geographic barriers also isolated Russia – only seaport, Archangel, which had ice most of the year
Westerners who came to Russia stayed in a separate part of Moscow – ex.: The German Quarter

10. Russia’s Religion
Russians followed Eastern Orthodoxy – becomes Russian Orthodox Church
Catholics and Protestants were seen as heretics to the Russians

11. Peter Visits the West
Peter regularly visited the German quarter of Moscow – he was fascinated by modern tools and machines there
Peter also had a passion for ships and the sea
He believed Russia’s future was dependent on a warm-water port if they were to compete with the modern states of Europe
1697: he embarked on the “Grand Embassy” – a long visit to western Europe to learn about customs and technologies.
He took 200 servants and 55 boyars with him; he kept his identity a secret and worked as a ship’s carpenter; until he was recognized - he was over 61/2 ft. tall.

12. Peter’s Reforms Peter’s goal for Russia became westernization
Russians were not happy.
To make changes above the dissatisfaction of his people, he needed to increase his powers as absolute monarch
The first thing he did was bring the Russian Orthodox Church under his control
- he abolished the office of patriarch
- he set up the Holy Synod under his direction

13. He reduced the power of the landowners
- he recruited able men from low-ranking families and
promoted them to positions of authority; gave them
land
- they owed much to czar and remained loyal to him
alone

14. He modernized the army
- hired European officers
- men were drilled with European tactics and weapons
- made being a soldier a lifetime job – professional
- numbered 200,000 by Peter’s death
- imposed heavy taxes to pay for army

15. Westernizing Russia Introduced potatoes into diet
Initiated the first newspaper
Raise women’s status
Ordered nobles to wear Western fashions and shave beards

16. Peter’s “Window on the West”
St. Petersburg

17. Peter wanted a seaport easier to travel to the West
He fought Sweden to gain piece of the Baltic coast – took 21 years of war
He gained St. Petersburg – his “window on the West” in 1703
He forced serfs to work to build the city
25,000 – 100,000 people died from working conditions and diseases
He ordered many Russian nobles to live there
By time of his death – Russia was a power to be reckoned with

18. Catherine the Great
Peter had no heir (he had killed his only son who had disapproved of his westernization)
This set off a power struggle within the Romanov family
Russian nobles reasserted their independence
Catherine was a German princess who wed the heir to Russian throne at 15

19. She became Russian and won the loyalty of the people
1762: Russian army officers loyal to her murdered her husband, Peter III – the question was “Was she involved?”
She was an efficient ruler: she reorganized government, codified laws, promoted state education for boys and girls
She embraced western ideas: encouraged French language and customs; a student of Enlightenment thinkers

20. Catherine’s Absolutism
Often ruthless
Exempted boyars from taxes
Increased boyar’s power over their serfs
Peasants (serfs) rebelled; she repressed them and life became unbearably harsh

21. Catherine’s Expansionism
She was determined to spread Russia’s borders
Russo-Turkish War (1774) – Russia’s war against the Ottomans gave her a warm water port on the Black Sea
1770s: Poland became a target
1772: Russia, Prussia, and Austria agreed to partition Poland
1793: Catherine took eastern Poland after further partitioning
1795: Austria, Prussia, and Russia took a final partitioning; Poland disappeared from the political map