Russia’s Rise

Growth of Muscovy 1300-1533

Growth of Muscovy 1300-1533

Russia’s Expansionist Politics Under the Tsars Ivan III- Ivan the Great- a large part of

Russia freed from Mongol control after 1462 and by 1480 Moscow completely free of Mongol control

Ivan organized strong army, giving government new military emphasis

Ivan III called Russia a third Rome and assumed the title Czar and centralized authority

Ivan IV- Ivan the Terrible- killed many boyars he suspected of conspiracy

Expansion and Contacts Early expansion towards Central Asia Recruited Cossacks (peasant adventurers) to settle

in new lands Incorporation of large Muslim minority- turning it

into a multinational empire similar to Ottomans and Mughals

Ivan IV established commercial contacts with Britain and western merchants established outposts in Moscow and other Russian centers

Time of troubles- Ivan IV left no heir, so after his death there were power claims by the boyars and attacks from Poland and Sweden

1613 member of the Romanov family chosen as tsar and the Romanov dynasty would rule until 1917

Russia’s First Westernization Peter I continued policies of building tsarist control

and expanding territory between 1689-1725 Great Embassy to westernize Russia Tsarist Autocracy of Peter the Great Crushed revolts No interest in parliamentary features of Holland and

Great Britain- more interested in absolutist trend Modernized the military Recruited bureaucrats from outside noble ranks Secret police St. Petersburg (Sweden reduced to second-rate

military)

What Westernization Meant Russian navy Eliminated old noble councils Systematized law codes Training institutes Economics- built up the metallurgical and mining

industries Culturally – got rid of whip at marriage ceremony,

Western dress Imitation process- changes were selective-

mostly affected elites Some elite opposed incorporation of the west

arguing that Russian traditions were superior- tension still today

Consolidation under Catherine the Great 1724 Peter died and period of weak rule

ensued until 1761, when his nephew and wife, Catherine, a German princess came to the throne

Catherine the Great ruled after her husband’s death and continued earlier policies of expansion and consolidation

Pugachev rebellion- peasant uprising that she put down and used as an excuse to extend the powers of the central government in regional affairs

1762 Catherine the Great became empress She was also a selective westernizer She gave new powers to the nobility over their

serfs She patronized western art but closed the door

to the French Revolution thinkers Resumed campaigns against the Ottomans and

got Crimea, claimed Alaska Increased Russian interference with Polish

affairs Partition of Poland- 1772, 1793, 1795

agreements with Austria and Prussia eliminated ind. Poland

1796 Catherine died

Serfdom: The Life of East Europe’s Masses 17th-18th centuries power of the nobility

over the serfs increased greatly. By 1800 half of population serfs 1649 – serfdom hereditary and close to

slavery Agriculture and growing economic

subordination to the west (dependent relationships of exporting raw materials and importing manufactured goods)

1785 law allowed landlords to punish harshly any serfs convicted of major crimes or rebellion

Trade and Economic Dependence 95% population rural and really

only 2 classes: serfs and landlords

But it did produce enough revenue to support expansion and population growth

Agricultural and manufacturing methods behind

Social Unrest

By end of 18th century recurring peasant rebellions and small number of western-oriented aristocrats calling for abolition of serfdom

Pugachev rebellion -1770s by Emelian Pugachev (imprisoned and executed by Catherine)

Russia and Eastern Europe Fluctuating borderland of influence,

where Poland and Bohemia (Czech rep.) oriented towards west and Hungary part of Hapsburgs

Poland- 1500 largest state in eastern Europe besides Russia ( Poland formed in 1386) By 1600 in decline. Lack of urban centers and merchant class, aristocratic parliament vetoed reforms