1. Absolute Monarchs Section 2 – Russia
Unit 9
Absolute Monarchs Section 2 – Russia

2. Russia Separated from Europe Culture and Geographically
Influenced by Mongols/Asian
Landlocked - No warm water ports
Had not experienced
The Renaissance
The Reformation
The Scientific Revolution
Still stuck in the Middle Ages

3. Eastern Orthodox not Roman Catholic Services in Greek or Russian
Religion
Eastern Orthodox not Roman Catholic
Services in Greek or Russian
Czar claims authority over church
Divorce is can be allowed
Different Alphabet – Cyrillic
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

4. Ivan the Terrible Ivan IV came to power in 1533 3 years old
Struggled for power over boyars
Landowning nobility
Tried to control him
At 16, seized control and declared himself Czar
The ‘Good Period’
1547 – 1560
Good leader, code of laws, added lands (50 miles a day)

5. Ivan the Terrible “Bad Period” – after 1560 1st Wife Anastasia died
Accused boyars of poisoning, turned against them
Created his own secret police force
To hunt traitors
Dressed all in black
Executed many boyars and peasants
Forced nobles to loyal to him or lose land

6. Ivan the Terrible 1581 – Killed oldest son & heir
Left only weaker son to rule
He also dies
After Ivan’s death, 1584,
Period of unrest =‘Time of Troubles’
Boyars fought for power
Neighboring countries invaded
For 30 years, over 50 claim throne
1613 Representatives from Russian National Assembly met
Chose new Czar, Michael Romanov
Ivan’s Grandnephew
Romanov’s rule Russia for next 300 years, till 1917

7. Romanov’s Powerful wealthy family Tried to build the power of the Czar
Suppressed religious protests
Absolute Rulers – restored order
1682
Peter I, age 10, shared power
With half brother and half sister
1689
Peter became sole leader of Russia

8. Peter The Great Peter I = Peter the Great Russia’s greatest reformer
Increased power of the czar, could be ruthless
Wants to make Russia great and more like Europe
Knew Russia needed a warm water port.
One port, Archangel, frozen much of the year

9. Peter the Great Peter increased his powers Reorganized Russia
Improved Army Training & Weaponry
Peter increased his powers
To be able to ‘force’ change
Brought the church under his control
Reduced power of the landowners
Recruited able men from lower classes
Gave them lands, got their loyalty
Service Nobility – Rank tied to Service

10. Peter the Great 1697 – Embarks on ‘Grand Embassy’ Long visit to Europe
To learn about customs and industrial techniques
First time Russian leader had traveled to west.
Kept his identity a secret.
Dressed as locals, worked and learned skills
Visited Netherlands, England, Austria
Cont’d to inspired Peter to make Russia more like Europe
Militarily and commercially
Brought back scientists and Artisans

11. Peter the Great 1700-1721 War with Sweden for warm water port
Won area on Baltic Sea
Creates city of St. Petersburg
Moves capital from Moscow
Orders Nobles to move there
Like Louis XIV

12. Peter the Great - Westernization
Russia had a lot to learn
Military
Hired European officers
Trained soldiers
Military became a lifetime job.
Peter had to impose heavy taxes to pay for this.
Commercially
Hired 700 engineers, shipbuilders, mathematicians to teach
Government
Modeled govt. after Louis XIV

13. Peter the Great Westernizing continued 1725 - Peter Dies
Introduced potatoes, became staple crop
Russia’s first newspaper
Raised Status of Women
Ordered nobles to dress in Western European clothes
Ordered to cut off beards
Peter Dies
Succeeded in making Russia an European power.
Did not complete westernization
Series of weak rulers
starting with his 2nd wife Catherine I till……..

14. Catherine the Great Married to Peter III, PTGs Grandson
Ruled from
Supported ..
The Arts, Sciences, Literature and Theatre
Most Russians poor – No changes
Continued Peter’s plan of Westernization
Most Important contribution
Foreign Policy

15. Catherine the Great Continued Expansion
Successful war against the Turks
Control of northern shore of Black Sea
Now two warm water ports
Partitioning of Poland
Poland weak – internal struggles
1772 – Russia, Austria and Prussia
1793 – Prussia and Russia
1795 – Russia, Prussia and Austria
Split rest of Poland
No longer on the Map – till 1919

16. End Russia