Absolutism in Russia

2. Absolutism in Russia • Aim: How did Peter the Great and Catherine the Great strengthen Russia and expand Russia territory?

3. Russia’s on the Rise • 1200s – 1700s: Russia isolated from western European developments (Crusades, Renaissance, Reformation) • Developed based on Eastern Orthodox Church and the Byzantine Empire (Constantinople) • Powerful monarchy – crushed opponents • Nobility, church, towns never rose against power

4. Ivan the Terrible1533-1584 • Ivan IV, known as Ivan the Terrible, • Took many steps against the boyars (nobles) to reduce their potential threat to the throne • Seized their land, and displaced the people

5. Ivan the Terrible • Put own loyal people on these lands • They terrorized the rest of the country • Arrested, exiled and executed many of his closest advisors. • Even boiled people! • In a fit of rage even killed own son.

6. Peter the Great1689 • Peter I ascended throne (fun fact: he was 7ft tall!) • Went on 18 month tour of Europe • Returned and forced nobles to adopt the ways of Western Europe. i.e. Western clothing, no beards, women ordered to attend parties • Sent Russians abroad to study shipbuilding, naval warfare, mathematics and languages • Created new capital of Russia, St Petersburg. Russia’s “window to the West”

7. Political Policies Period of Westernization and Modernization • Total Control • Borrowed ideas from France, such as central bureaucracy with local governments • Brought Church under his control • Created a new class of nobles • Allowed to own land in return for service • Nobles had full control of serfs

8. Foreign Policy • Goal: make Russia a European power • Expanded boundaries in south, east and northwest • Fought wars with Poland, Sweden and the Ottoman Empire • Wanted a warm water port on the Black Sea • Wanted control of the Baltic coastline • Modernize navy and army • 1721 – defeated Sweden and won control of the eastern end of the Baltic region

9. Expansion

10. Economic Policies • Hired western experts to teach and help build factories, roads, ports, ships. • Government had total control over the economy • No taxes for nobles • Taxed the peasants • Agriculture and craft production under strict government control. • Gave incentives to increase production.

11. Palace in St. Petersburg

12. Social Policies • Nobles forced to cut beards • Women ordered to attend parties • Dress like the French/western clothing • Built school for engineering, math and sciences • Simplified the Russian alphabet • Sent Russians to study in Western Europe • 1st newspaper • Introduced potatoes

14. Legacy of Peter the Great • Strengthened Russia’s role in foreign affairs • Brought Russia into the mainstream of western European culture • Broke traditional Eastern Orthodox culture that united the people • Never created warm water port • Incomplete and hasty reforms

16. Catherine the Great • A German princess, adopted Russian ways and earned respect of her people • Believed all people born equal

17. Catherine the Great • Wanted to free serfs, but didn’t • Peasant rebellion made things change • Common people had fewer rights than any other place in Europe • Catherine brutally squashed any uprisings

18. “Great” Foreign Policy • Significantly expanded borders • Gained a warm water port • Expanded West and South