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Russian Absolutism

Russian Absolutism. Peter I and Catherine II. Russian Isolation. Why was Russia so isolated prior to the 18 th century? Cultural Cyrillic alphabet Religious Russian Orthodox Geographical Landlocked. Who Controls the Sea?. Sweden and Poland control the Baltic Sea

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Russian Absolutism

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  1. Russian Absolutism Peter I and Catherine II

  2. Russian Isolation • Why was Russia so isolated prior to the 18th century? • Cultural • Cyrillic alphabet • Religious • Russian Orthodox • Geographical • Landlocked

  3. Who Controls the Sea? • Sweden and Poland control the Baltic Sea • Turks control the Black Sea • Poland controls rivers on which trade occurred

  4. The Romanovs • 1613 – Michael Romanov - Tsar • Romanov dynasty rules Russia for 300 years • Last Tsar – Nicholas II • 1918 – Nicholas II and his family murdered

  5. Peter the Great • Ruled 1689-1725 • “Westernized” Russia • Expanded Russian territory • Created Russian navy • Founded St. Petersburg

  6. Peter I • 1697 – Peter travels to Western Europe • Goals: • Observe west European culture and politics • Learn about west European shipbuilding, science

  7. Westernizing Russia • Social • Nobles forced to dress in Western clothes • Military • Creates standing army, first navy • Religious • Controls Russian Orthodox Church • Economic • Encourages middle class professions

  8. Peter I: Class System • “Service Nobility” • Title dependent on service to tsar • Serfs (80% of population) • Conditions worsen under Peter • Very small middle class – Peter seeks to expand

  9. Foreign Expansion • GOAL - gain warm water ports and land for Russia • 1700-1721 – Great Northern War • Russia gains territory from Sweden • Russia gains port on Gulf of Finland • St. Petersburg

  10. St. Petersburg • Founded in 1703 • New Russian capital • “Window to the West” • Built by serfs under harsh conditions • City built on bones

  11. Catherine the Great • Ruled 1762-1796 • German princess • 1744 - Married Peter III • 1762 – Conspired to have him killed • Supported arts, science, literature • Expanded Russian territory

  12. Catherine II • Seeks to westernize Russian culture • Imports Western paintings, sculptures • Hires Western architects • Good friend of Voltaire, Diderot • Encouraged nobility to speak French

  13. Catherine II • Restricts practice of torture • Improves education • Strengthens local government • Allowed for greater religious freedom • Initially condemns serfdom….

  14. Pugachev’s Rebellion • 1773 • Major, violent serf rebellion • Led by Cossak Emelian Pugachev • Crushed by Russian army • Catherine gives nobles complete control over serfs • Causes further oppression of serfs

  15. Peter and Catherine: Outcomes • Russian territory greatly expanded • Russian tsars consolidate absolute power • Conditions of serfs worsen • Russia becomes major European power

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