Aim: In What ways did Absolute Monarchs impact Russia?

Peter the GreatPeter the Great Curious young boy who inherited the Curious young boy who inherited the

throne at the age of tenthrone at the age of ten Studied western customs and technology in Studied western customs and technology in

EnglandEngland Westernization- adoption of western ideas, technology Westernization- adoption of western ideas, technology

and culture.and culture.

Peter as a Autocrat and Peter as a Autocrat and ReformerReformer

Goals to strengthen military expand borders and Goals to strengthen military expand borders and centralize royal power.centralize royal power.

Forced boyars to serve in military or civilian jobsForced boyars to serve in military or civilian jobs Boyars- landowning noblesBoyars- landowning nobles

Spread serfdom allowing boyar to fulfill duties to stateSpread serfdom allowing boyar to fulfill duties to state Adopted mercantilist policies to fund his reformsAdopted mercantilist policies to fund his reforms

Mercantilism- policy by which a nation sought to Mercantilism- policy by which a nation sought to export more than it imported in order to build its export more than it imported in order to build its supply of gold and silversupply of gold and silver

Murdered thousands of rebels as an example of his Murdered thousands of rebels as an example of his powerpower

Expansion Under Peter

Expansion Under PeterExpansion Under Peter Created the largest standing army in Created the largest standing army in

EuropeEurope To increase Russia’s ability to trade with the West To increase Russia’s ability to trade with the West

searched for a warm water portsearched for a warm water port Warm water port- waterway that is free of ice all Warm water port- waterway that is free of ice all

year roundyear round

Lost war with Ottoman Empire for port in the Black seaLost war with Ottoman Empire for port in the Black sea

Defeated Swedish nation for port Defeated Swedish nation for port in Baltic Seain Baltic Sea

Built St. Petersburg from land Built St. Petersburg from land taken from the Swedestaken from the Swedes St. Petersburg became a St. Petersburg became a

symbol of absolutism in symbol of absolutism in Russia just as Versailles Russia just as Versailles was to France.was to France.

Signed treaty with Qing, China Signed treaty with Qing, China that recognized Russia’s right to that recognized Russia’s right to land north of Manchurialand north of Manchuria

Legacy of Peter the GreatLegacy of Peter the Great

Expanded Russian territoryExpanded Russian territory Gained PortsGained Ports Created mighty armyCreated mighty army Westernized RussiaWesternized Russia Widened the gap between rich and poorWidened the gap between rich and poor

Catherine the GreatCatherine the Great

Gained control of Gained control of Russia after her Russia after her mentally unstable mentally unstable husband was husband was murderedmurdered

Efficient RulerEfficient Ruler Reorganized Reorganized

government, laws government, laws and educationand education

Encouraged Encouraged French customs French customs and Ideasand Ideas

Ruthless Absolute MonarchRuthless Absolute Monarch

Forced more peasants into serfdomForced more peasants into serfdom Helped to achieve Peters dream of a warm water port Helped to achieve Peters dream of a warm water port

by defeating Ottoman Empire for port in the Black seaby defeating Ottoman Empire for port in the Black sea

Partition of PolandPartition of Poland Russia, Austria and Prussia Partition PolandRussia, Austria and Prussia Partition Poland

Partition- divide up landPartition- divide up land

Peter the GreatPeter the Great Peter the Great saw the long Peter the Great saw the long

beards worn by Russian men beards worn by Russian men as an sample of his country's as an sample of his country's backwardness and ordered backwardness and ordered nobles to shave their beards. nobles to shave their beards. Many men objected because Many men objected because they believed that God had a they believed that God had a beard and that man was made beard and that man was made in God's image. Eventually, in God's image. Eventually, Peter allowed men to keep Peter allowed men to keep their beards if they paid a tax. their beards if they paid a tax. This cartoon shows Peter the This cartoon shows Peter the Great, at right, clipping the Great, at right, clipping the beard of a protesting noble.beard of a protesting noble.

How is the noble in this picture reacting to Peters Beard Policy?

Compare this Compare this picture to the picture to the French court at French court at Versailles. Why do Versailles. Why do you Think Great you Think Great displays of wealth displays of wealth were important to were important to monarchs?monarchs?

Compare the Goals and policies of Peter the Great to those of Louis XIV.

How did Peter the Great try to make Russia into a modern state?

What steps did Peter take to expand Russia's borders?

How did Catherine the Great strengthen Russia?