1. “I would not have guessed that in 1700 that Reason, one day, would come to Moscow as the voice of a princess born in Germany.”
–Voltaire to Catherine the great
4:18 Russia

2. Russia: European or Asian?
Ural Mountains mark the dividing line between Europe and Asia

3. Russia: European or Asian?
European heritage
Greek Orthodox Christianity
modeled after the Byzantine Empire
tsars—Russian emperors (“caesar”)
feudal system: boyar landowners vs. serfs
Christ the Savior Cathedral, Moscow

4. Russia: European or Asian?
Asian heritage
Mongol influence = no Renaissance or Reformation
Major exporter to Europe and China
Siberian furs, honey, caviar
Christ the Savior Cathedral, Moscow

5. Ivan III “The Great”
Ivan III ( )—centralized the Rus territories under the control of Moscow, Tsar of “Muscovy”
ended Mongol rule over the Rus
married Zoe, niece of the last Byzantine Emperor
rebuilt the citadel (city walls) of the Moscow Kremlin

6. Ivan IV “The Terrible”
Ivan IV ( )— conquered the Mongol’s Golden Horde, est. Russia
built St. Basil’s Cathedral
massacre of noble boyars at Novgorod, killed his son in a fit of rage
Time of Troubles ( )— state of Russian anarchy, boyars attempted to rule

7. Romanov Dynasty Romanov Dynasty (1613-1917)—ended the Time of Troubles
Alexis Romanov ( )—abolished assemblies of boyars; gained power over Russian Orthodox church

8. Romanov Dynasty Slavophile serfs resisted Western influence on Russia
Old Believers—refused to accept changes to the Orthodox Church; mostly peasants, exiled to Siberia
Boyar landlords could buy/sell serfs (1/3 population

9. Peter I “The Great”
Peter I Romanov ( )—absolutist ruler; vastly expanded Russian border
Removed enemies: sister Sophia sent to convent, Streltsy boyar army disbanded, abolished the patriarch
“Westernized” Russia
Moved the capital to St. Petersburg for warm water port access
Winter Palace modelled after Versailles
European sleeves, no veils

12. Tsarina Elizabeth
Elizabeth of Russia ( )—daughter of Peter the Great, known for tolerance and education
no executions under her reign
University of Moscow, St. Petersburg Academy of the Arts
Smolny Cathedral

13. Catherine the Great
Catherine II ( )—educated, German-born Protestant, took the throne after husband Peter III assassinated
gave appearance of enlightened Western rule
granted boyars power over peasants
segregated Jews to the Pale of Settlement (Poland)
frequent pogroms—anti-Jewish attacks

14. Cossacks—peasants recruited to migrate to newly seized lands in southern Russia
Pugachev Rebellion (1774)—Cossack peasant revolt
Leader claimed to be Catherine’s murdered husband, executed
Increased Catherine’s oppression of serfs