aim: what were the limitations of centralization and westernization in czarist russia?
TRANSCRIPT
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Aim: What were the limitations of centralization and
westernization in Czarist Russia?
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“Russia has never been a nation state,
but always an empire, with
Muskovy gradually expanding its
borders since the 15th century.
Russia built a state as it built its
empire; the two were inseparable.”
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Use of Cossack settlers – nation-building? Free “Russian” peasants vs. nomadic peoples
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Russian boundaries at their greatest extent (19th century)
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Comparing centralization – Russian state played “catch-up” to other
absolutist states
• Mongols encouraged centralization – to their regret• Control over Russian Orthodox Church – Avvakum• Asserted authority: “Czar” – Caesar (Russia as the “Third Rome”)
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Russian state - nobility relations
• From “Chosen Council” (Ivan) to “Table of Ranks” (Peter) – asserted control over loyal nobility; abolition of boyars
• Oprichnina – confiscation of large estates and oprichniki – new aristocracy, loyal to the Czar
• “The Czar himself was an energetic servant of the state” – Peter had his own “weak” son executed
• Supported nobles control over their own estates – increased serfdom. Reasons? Vast extent of empire made it harder to control; support of nobility crucial - compare with Ottoman Janissaries
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“Compared to the shoguns, Russia’s czars were more open to outside influences….”
St. Petersburg
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Russian “Westernization”
• “Germantown” in Moscow: foreigners area – shows fascination yet control
• Technological modernization: military reform: Russian navy; industrial development under state guidance
• Western culture; Peter shaves nobles’ beards• Bureaucratic reform• St. Petersburg – easy access to western Europe; a
new city w/ new ways, not tradition
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“Compared to the shoguns, Russia’s czars were more open to outside influences, yet they too sought to
control the introduction of ideas from western Europe.”
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St. Petersburg
Moscow
Western Europe
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Russian “Westernization”
• “Germantown” in Moscow: foreigners area – shows fascination yet control
• St. Petersburg – easy access to western Europe; a new city w/ new (western) ways, not tradition
• Technological modernization: military reform: Russian navy; industrial development under state guidance
• Western culture: Peter shaves nobles’ beards
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Limits on “Westernization”
• Serfdom remained• Restrictions on social mobility limited power of
merchant class• Nobility remained powerful: “Table of Ranks” vs.
western centralized bureaucracy• Traded w/ west through St. Petersburg, but as a “periphery” - natural resources for higher technology goods