2. Absolutism in Russia By Brianna, Emily, Brody, Ewurakua, and Bill

3. The Romanov Dynasty ● Second imperial dynasty ● Reigned from 1613 to March 15th 1917 ● Family fortunes soared through marriage ● Family of Emperor Nicholas II were executed by the Bolsheviks o None thought to be alive ● End of direct family bloodline

4. Rulers ●Born on June 9 th, 1672 in Moscow, Russia ●14 th child of Czar Alexis, first child with his second wife ●Special interest in military affairs, navigation, mathematics, sailing ●Constantly under threat from mother and step mother ○Theodore, Peter’s brother came into power, yet died in 1682 ○Sophia- sister of Peter and Ivan – since both Ivan and Peter were under age to rule ■Had an unpopular domestic policy ●At 17, Peter removed Sophia, in 1689 ○Technically shared throne with Ivan, until his death in 1696- when Peter gained full power ●Inherited a severely underdeveloped nation in comparison to European countries ●Took extensive reforms in reestablishing Russia’s power ●Peter physical presence indicated his rule Peter the Great: Czar of Russia

5. Rulers ●Born Sophie von Anhalt- Zerbst, on May 2 nd, 1729 ●Daughter of German prince, commander of regiment of Prussian army ●Arrived in Russia as the Grand Duchess Catherine Alekseyavna ●Married Peter III, grandson of Peter the Great, heir to the Russian throne- unhappy marriage ●She was intelligent, ambitious, formal education ●Peter gained power in 1762 - plans to get rid of her ●She had the support of the public and army ●Peter was captured and assassinated ○Not fully known if Catherine was involved in the assassination ●Catherine in power for 34 years, until 1796 ○One of the most influential leaders in the country ●Expanded Russia’s borders and continued westernization Catherine the Great or Catherine II

6. Peter The Great (r. 1682-1725)

7. Catherine The Great (r. 1762-1796)

8. Accomplishments Peter the Great: ● Military o Formed Russia’s first standing army in 1699 o Founded the first Russian Navy (invested in major training) o Expanded Weaponry o Captured the Ottoman city of Azov o Expanded the size of Russia through war

9. Accomplishments Peter the Great: ● Transformed Russia into the Russian Empire and had great military and power ● Helped with the foundation of the city of St. Petersburg (May 27, 1703) o captured the Swedish Fort ● Great Embassy o westernization-education, clothing, etc.

10. Accomplishments Peter the Great: ● Introduced the Poll Taxes to increase the government revenue ● Introduced land reforms o landowners have a sensible amount of control over peasants ● Many churches and universities were established ● School of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Navigation were founded ● Russia’s first newspaper-The Vedomosti ● Russia gained a warm-water port, gained a strong army, and had a strengthened economy

11. Accomplishments Catherine the Great ● sponsored education programs ● extended the Russian Borders ● Directed the building of the Hermitage Museum ● 1776-created major cultural institution o Great Theatre of Moscow ● After death of Peter the Great, further expanded and supported westernizing Russia/expand territory

12. Failures Ivan IV: ● was seen as major failure as the leader of Russia ● known as “The Terrible” ● gained very little land during his ruling ● was not able to gain port for Russian trade Accomplishments of “Ivan the Terrible” ● seeked absolute control of Russia

13. Absolutism Examples

14. “Ivan the Terrible” ● was Czar at the age of 3 ● seeked absolute control of Russia ● seized the Boyars’ lands ● released the Oprichniki upon the nation

15. “Peter the Great” ● sought to “westernize” Russia ● imposed his aristocratic authority to make changes ● forced the Russians to adopt Western ethnics