Russian Empire, Chapter 181450-1800(ish)

End of the Mongols

Romanov Dynasty

Westernizing Russia: Peter and Catherine

Eastern Europe

Mongols fighting the Russians at the Battle of the Kalka River. Ended Kievan Russia rule of modern day Russia.

Regional Responses in Western Eurasia

Russia and Rule from Afar• The Golden Horde used Russian princes to tax the

people and kept the Orthodox Church in place.• Favored Prince Alexander of Novogorod because he

had aided in the Mongol conquest of Russia.• Moscow emerged as the new center of the Russian

civilization under the Tatars (Mongols, sort of).• Structure of government did not change under

Mongol rule.• In 1480 Ivan III (“the Great”, not “the Terrible”), the

prince of Moscow, ended Mongol rule and adopted the title of Tsar.

Ivan III “the Great” – First Russian prince to fight the Golden Horde. He adopted the title of Tsar.

Ivan the Terrible

• Ivan IV• “Ruled” 1533-

1584• Grand prince of

Moscow at age 3• Violent youth

– Mother died (poisoned?)

Ivan the Terrible

• Boyars (Russian nobles) ruled terribly in 1530’s

• Ivan named Tsar of Russia 1547

Ivan the Terrible

• Married 7 times• Mental problems

– Cruel– Drank a lot

Russian Nobility

• Ivan weakened power of Russian nobility

• Boyars began to lose power anyway……..

Russian Nobility

……to newer nobles

Dvoranye – granted land by the tsar in return for service to him

Ivan’s Rule

• Masters ruled over peasants

• Streltsy formed to enforce state policy

• Raw materials exported to foreign countries

• Agriculture improved

“The Gathering of Russia”

• Drove out the Mongols

• Gained control of southeastern Russia

                      

                             

Russian Empire Expands

Ivan’s Terror

• Oprichniky (elite guard)

• Confiscated boyar property and gave it to the guard

• 60,000 Russians killed in Novgorod when town plotted against him

• Killed his son (spear in the face)

• No heir left

“The Time of Troubles”

• Ivan the Terrible dead in 1584, no real heir

• Civil war• Peasants revolted• Poland invaded in 1610 (Catholics)• Boyars wanted order and peace

back• Sooo……..

Michael Romanov is “elected” tsar, 1613

• Distant relative of Ivan’s 1st wife

• Young• Poor health• Non-threatening

Michael Romanov

• His heir was Alexis• Restored imperial

power• Conceded to the

nobles on military service

• 1649 legalized serfdom (poor peasants)

Northern Russian Architecture, XVIIth Century, Kizhi

Russian Architecture, XVIth - XVIIIth Centuries

The Romanov Dynasty

MIKHAILFEODOROVICH 1613-1645

ALEXEI MIKHAILOVICH 1645-1676

FEODOR ALEXEEVICH 1676-1682

IVAN V (IVAN ALEXEEVICH) 1682-1696

SOFIAALEXEEVNA 1682-1689

PETER THE GREATEMPEROR OF ALL RUSSIA 1721-1725

CATHERINE I 1725-1727

PETER II1727-1730

ANNA IVANOVNA 1730-1740

IVAN VI1740-1741

ELIZAVETA PETROVNA 1741-1761

PETER III1761-1762

CATHERINE THE GREAT 1762-1796

PAUL I1796-1801

ALEXANDER I 1801-1825

NICHOLAS I 1825-1855

ALEXANDER II 1855-1881

ALEXANDER III

1881-1894 NICHOLAS II

1894-1917

Peter The Great1689 - 1725

• Transformed Russian Society to its foundation• Military reform: Russia was at war in every year of Peter’s reign but one• Peter ordered thousands of Church bells to be melt down and made into

cannons and cannonballs• His army numbered more than 200,000 regular troops, the largest in Europe• He built ships and had 28,000 sailors• Built St. Petersburg, a new capital of Russia• Placed Church under control of Holy Synod, a secular office

• Peter defeated the Swedes in the battle of Poltava in 1709, obtained territory on the Baltic coast, and marked the emergence of Russia as a military power in Europe

• Developed economy and created a better, more enlightened administration• Introduced sweeping government reforms, using western European models: a

Senate was created with “Twelve colleges”/ministries• Foreign trade increased by 400%• Introduced new taxes• Decreed to shave beards, westernized clothes, encouraged learning foreign

languages

“Window on the West”

• Why was St. Petersberg located where it was? (Hint: what is the nature of most of Russia’s sea-water access?)

• What is the idea behind having a “window on the West?”

Peter I in 1716

Summer Palace of Peter the Great

In 1703 Peter said,“ Here shall be a town.”

Peter I Bust in CopenhagenGrand Palace and Fountains in

Petrodvorets

St. Petersburg –A Window on the West

Peter the Great The AdmiraltySt. Peter & Paul Fortress

Vasilievsky Island – The place of original Peter the Great’s Port More Views

Kunstcamera, Peter’s First Museum

Reigned: 1762-1796Born in GermanyMarried Peter III in 1745 Great intelligence, strong willPassionate and clever womanTurned her romances to the advantage of the state

Catherine the Great

The Bronze Horseman

On the Shore by the desolate waves

He stood, with lofty thoughts,

And gaze into the distance…

Alexander Pushkin (1833)

Catherine II to Peter I

They both admired Western Culture

Peter had practical nature: imported western technology

Shipbuilding fascinated Peter

Catherine was interested in culture and ideas. She built palaces and purchased grand collections of art

Catherine corresponded with French philosophers Voltaire and Rousseau. She also was the author of essays, plays, poems and music.

Peter was traveling in Europe as a workman learning shipbuilding, navigation, geometry,dentistry, and carpentry.

Palaces of St. Petersburg, XVIIIth - XIXth Centuries

St. Petersburg & Peterhof, XVIIIth - XIXth Centuries

Publication of books increased from 600

during Peter the Great’s reign to 7,500

Built Smolny Institute for noblewomen

Founded Odessa, a southern port and

stronghold on the Black sea

Established Russian Academy of Science

Ended the initial concord between the

empress and the writers

Signed the execution sentence of

Alexander Radishchev for his pamphlet

Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow, in

which he described the evils of serfdom.

Ended Pugachev rebellion in blood

Peter the Great had ended the threat to

Russia from Sweden,and Catherine did

the same from the Ottoman Empire and

Poland

Expanded Russian territories: annexed

most of Poland, the Crimea,and the

Northern Caucasus

Confirmed and strengthened gentry’s

ownership of land and serfs. Peasants

were serfs since XVIth century.

Seized Church lands for state needs

Emancipated Nobility from compulsory

state service, and granted freedom from

taxation

Catherine the Great

“My aim is to do good…to bring happiness freedom and

well being to my subjects”

What about Eastern Europe?

• Similarities– Serfdom– Eastern Orthodoxy– Looking to the

“Roman” model (sort of)

– Autocracy

• Differences– More Western contacts– Smaller states– Often at war with or

dominated by Russia