Section 3 The Thirty Years War

The Thirty Years’ War HRE by 17th century patchwork of small states Religion was the original cause 1618- Began in Bohemia, Catholic Hapsburg king tried to suppress Protestant revolt Local conflict became general war HRE supported by Catholic states Protestant powers sent troops Fought all across Germany, led to 1/3 of pop. dying Ruined German trade and agriculture

The Thirty Years’ War Ended in 1648 with the Peace of Westphalia Weakened Hapsburg Spain and Austria Made France the most powerful country in Europe Ended religious wars in Europe Introduced new method of settling disputes, where participants decide terms of peace Treaty recognized European countries as equals and was the beginning of the modern state system

Absolute Rulers of Russia Section 4 Absolute Rulers of Russia

Absolute Rulers of Russia 1463-1505 Ivan III first strong ruler of Russia Conquered territory around Moscow Centralized the government Liberated Russia from Mongol rule 1554 Ivan’s grandson Ivan IV became Russia’s first czar

Absolute Rulers of Russia Ivan became czar when he was 3 years old Early life he competed for power with the boyars (Russia’s landowning nobles) When he was 16 he seized power for good 1560 his wife dies and Ivan accused the boyars of poisoning her Became known as Ivan the Terrible He organized a secret police force to hunt down and murder people that did not agree with him He took the boyars estates and gave them to people that were loyal to him

Absolute Rulers of Russia 1581 Ivan kills his son and heir in an argument Ivan died three years later that left his younger less competent son as ruler of Russia After his son died there was a period of turmoil in Russia Boyars struggled for power 1613 representatives from many Russian cities chose the next czar, Michael Romanov (who was related to Ivan’s wife) Began the Romanov dynasty that ruled Russia for the next three hundred years

Absolute rulers of Russia Russia Contrasts with the Rest of Europe Russia was a land of boyars and serfs Landowners needed serfs to work on the lad to produce harvests Serfs were seen as property, they were sold when the land was sold Serfs were also given as presents and to pay debts Most boyars looked to Constantinople not to Rome for religious guidance Most Russians were Eastern Orthodox not Catholic or Protestants Mongol rule had cut off Russia from the Age of Exploration and the Renaissance Geographic barriers isolated Russia, its only seaport was frozen in ice most of the year

Absolute Rulers of Russia Peter the Great comes to Power Romanov’s restored order to Russia Passed new law codes and put down revolts 1696 Peter I becomes ruler of Russia (known as Peter the Great), he continued the trend of increasing the czars power Peter believed the future of Russia depended on the country having a warm water port to compete with the rest of Europe 1697 Peter leaves to tour Western Europe to learn European customs and manufacturing techniques (he traveled in disguise to keep his identity secret)

Absolute Rulers of Russia Peter came back from his trip to “westernize” Russia (adoption of Western European ideas, technology, culture) Russia would compete military and commercially with other European countries To bring changes to Russia Peter became an absolute ruler He reduced the power of the boyars Gave power to lower ranking families, and gave them grants of land Modernized army, hired officers, used weapons and tactics from other European countries

Absolute Rulers of Russia Other attempts to “westernize” Russia included: Introduction of potatoes, became a staple of the Russian diet Raised the status of women Ordered nobles to give up traditional styles of clothing and dress for European fashions Opened universities to promote arts, sciences and navigation Peter thought that education was the key to advance Russia Promoted mercantilist policies Improved waterways, roads, developed industry Had no mercy for those that resisted his orders

Absolute Rulers of Russia Peter wanted a seaport to open trade with the west Fought a 21 year war with Sweden to gain port on Baltic Sea Before war was over Peter began to construct the city of St. Petersburg Built on a desolate swamp used the labor and lives of 50,000 serfs Ordered nobles to move to capital from Moscow 1725 Peter dies and leaves Russia as European power