Early Russian History Ms. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY Adapted by Reiner Kolodinski
Former Soviet Region Compared in Latitude & Area with the United States
Russia’s Time Zones
Topography of Russia Ural Mts. Amur River – 2700 miles
Rich Soil of the Steppes Chernozem Soil
What does all this mean? Russia is HUGE! Russia has vast resources! Russia is very DIVERSE! Geographically & Demographically Russia is complex!
Themes in Russian History Expansion by conquest. Need for warm-water ports. The necessity of a strong, central government.
Political, economic, cultural center Novgorod Middle Ages Political, economic, cultural center
Early Russia Vladimir of Kiev 10th c. ruler who brought Greek Orthodoxy to R Yaroslav the Wise Developed Kiev Pursued W contact Rise of Boyar class Great, White & Little (U) Russian cultural groups emerge Autonomous kingdoms emerge Mongols Invade1223-1480 “The Golden Horde”
Early Byzantine Influences: Orthodox Christianity
Early Byzantine Influences: Orthodox Christianity
Early Byzantine Influences: Cyrillic Alphabet
Russian Landed Aristocracy “Boyars”
Early Russian Expansion: Moving North
Battle on the Ice (Neva River) Against the Swedes Alexander Nevsky: 1220-1263 Battle on the Ice (Neva River) Against the Swedes Teutonic Knight
The Mongols Invade Russia
Ivan (the Great) III (1462-1505) Ivan III Unified Northern Russia + ended Mongol rule Ivan III Tearing the Great Khan’s Letter Requesting More Tribute in 1480
Russia in the Late 1500s
Ivan IV “Terrible” Tsar at 16 Reforms, Trade Modernized Legal Code Expanded Territory Wife died >> ‘Dark’ Ivan “Oprichnina” War – Ruin - Tragedy
Tsar Michael Romanov (r. 1613-1645) “Time of Troubles” >>>> Established Romanov Dynasty Stability Beware the Streltsy
Romanov Dynasty (1613-1917) Romanov Family Crest
The Pendulum of Russian History Pro-West For Progress & Change Encourage New Ideas, Technologies, etc. Anti-West Isolationist Xenophobic Ultra-Conservative A few Tsars Intellectual elites Merchants/businessmen Young members of the middle class. Most Tsars Russian Orthodox Church Military Boyars Serfs = peasants REFORM-MINDED LEADER DEMAGOGUE
Peter the Great (r. 1682-1725) Secure the Throne Peter or Ivan V? Secure the Throne Control Boyars & Streltsy Modernize military & navy Expand military by “conscription” Westernize Russia “Beard Tax”, clothes, court Expand Territory
Russia vs. Sweden After the Great Northern War Warm Water Port Defeats Sweden Peace of Nystad St. Petersburg built western style
St. Petersburg, Russia New Capital & Western-style Court