1. From Mongols, to Muscovy, to Czarism
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From Mongols, to Muscovy, to Czarism

2. AP European History Ms. Pugh (portions and layout were taken from a Essex High School (Vermont) Presentation)

3. Early History
862 the “Rus” (Viking tribes) began to organize in what is now the Ukraine – they were settlers from Scandinavia and had traveled along water routes.
962 the “Kievan Rus” was established in Novgorod.

4. Russian Orthodox Christianity
In the 10th century, Vladimir sought out a religion for his people. The legend of how he chose Orthodox Christianity is as follows:
He sent men to study Catholicism, Islam, and Judaism.
The man who went to study Catholicism returned and mentioned that Catholics had to answer to the Pope – Vladimir did not want to answer to anyone – No to Catholicism
The man who went to study Islam returned and informed Vladimir that Muslims could not drink alcohol – No to Islam
The man who went to study Judaism returned and reported that Jews did not have to answer to any man and they could drink – Vladimir liked this, but at the same time…
A merchant returned from the Byzantine World would drawings of Orthodox Christian Churches and icons. Vladimir was so overcome with their beauty (and the fact there was not a “pope” and alcohol was not forbidden) that he chose Orthodox Christianity as the religion of Russia.

5. Mongols
In 1240, Kiev was destroyed by the Mongols and the Russian territory was split into numerous smaller dukedoms.
Mongols gain control of Russia, known as the Golden Horde
Mongols do not disrupt Russian culture
Decline of Mongols after years of rule
Rise of Muscovy – shift from Kiev to Moscow

6. Muscovy
After the Mongols were pushed out of Russia, power shifted from Kiev to Moscow.
After the fall of Constantinople, Ivan III ( ) referred to his empire as "the Third Rome" and considered it heir to the Byzantine tradition.
Ivan IV (the Terrible) ( ) was the first Russian ruler to call himself Czar. He pushed Russia eastward with his conquests
Ivan was succeeded by Boris Godunov, whose reign commenced the so-called Time of Troubles. Relative stability was achieved when Michael Romanov established the Romanov Dynasty that ruled Russia until 1917.

7. Social Classes There were two main “classes” in Russian history
1. Cossacks – peasants
2. Boyars – nobles

8. Romanovs
Michael Romanov – was elected to be Czar/Tzar/Tsar (sounds like Caesar), but afterwards the ruling family of Russia was inherited.
Alexis became Czar in 1645 and ruled until 1676.
His son Fedor (Theodore) III became Czar and was basically competent, but he was physically deformed and had some problems ruling. He died and his two brothers Ivan V and Peter I were declared co-Czars. Ivan was mentally retarded, so their sister really ruled until Peter was old enough to.

9. Peter the Great Struggle for the crown
Russia = Backward, 100 years behind
Westernization
Reforms aimed at getting Russia up to speed

10. European Tour When Peter was young he went on a tour of Europe.
He traveled in disguise and even performed manual labor along the way.
He became convinced that Russia needed to become as “westernized” as Europe.

11. St. Petersburg, 1703
Peter sought easy access to the Baltic Sea -- needed for trade and military
Peter builds a new capital – St. Petersburg on Baltic
Winter Palace – St. Petersburg

12. Cultural Reforms of Peter
Goal: aimed to “westernize” society, little impact on the peasantry
Clothing changed to German style
The Boyars were forced to shave their beards.
The calendar was changed to more closely resemble that of Europe.
Language - a written language was established.
Education - increase in the number of schools, attendance, and emphasis on education.
Architecture

13. Social Reform Table of Ranks (civil service)
Peter the Great
Social Reform
Table of Ranks (civil service)
Serfs - sold to factories, this is the first time they’re mentioned in law and it serves to condone serfdom.
Education - more schools, more requirements
Church reform - establishment of Holy Synod, reorganization of clergy

14. Economic reform Poll tax
Peter the Great
Economic reform
Poll tax
Establishment of industry – mini Industrial Revolution that was supported by the state.

15. Military reform Peter the Great
Military made up of both Cossacks and Boyars
Boyars were forced into service – way of controlling them
Issued Table of Rank which defined someone’s social status based upon military rank
Founded the navy
200,000 men drafted – for life

16. Expansion and Conquest
Russia won the Great Northern War ( ) against Sweden and took a piece.
Russia annexed Latvia and Estonia

17. Other Fun Facts Peter the Great was 6’8” tall
He sent his first wife to a nunnery, he later married a servant
Had ten legitimate children
Had his oldest son killed

18. Peter – a Legacy He simply tried to do too much.
Russia wasn’t ready for Peter and his reforms.
His reforms can be considered to be aimed primarily at making Russia stronger militarily, to help Russia fight wars.
Because Peter initiated all of the reforms on his own, all of them could be changed after he died
There was now less emphasis on the idea of the state representing the rule of God, instead on initiating its own ideas and letting them stand for themselves, on their own merit.
Serfdom

19. Snapshot of Russian Society
Peasantry – 90% (47% public, 53% private)
Townspeople – 3%
Clergy – 1%
Nobility – 1% (3% owned 50% of serfs)

20. Russia – Themes: 1450 -1750 Culturally distinct (not Europe, not Asia)
Backward (no Renaissance, no Reformation) but attempts to catch up through state-sponsored Westernization
Rural (95% of population)
Serfdom (until 1861)
Strong Nobility – ever-present Myth of the Benevolent Czar