Absolute Rulers of Russia

Draw this table in your notes Russia Western Europe Labor Religion Geography

What’s Different in Russia? Western Europe Labor Serfs are property Cannot leave the land Are bought and sold Won freedom during ren/ref Moved to cities Religion Orthodox Christian Catholics & Protestants Geography Isolated Few seaports – none warm water Trade & political connections are easily made

Ivan IV (the terrible) Absolute ruler Takes throne at 3 Fighting between the boyars (nobles) about controlling Ivan @16 Ivan takes over and crowns himself Czar

Ivan’s Good Period At age 16 he seized power and became czar Added land to Russia Gave Russia a code of laws

Ivan becomes “Ivan the Terrible” His wife died – he blamed boyars Has secret police kill the boyars & associates Thousands died

Ivan & Torture Tortured and executed thousands of people Once had an entire city killed because a few people planned an uprising Ivan tortured people himself He came up with elaborate types of torture: Burning people alive in a huge pot of water Frying people to death Tearing off their limbs

After Ivan Time of Troubles Boyars struggling for power Heirs of czar died mysteriously

Romonov’s Michael Romanov starts the Romanov dynasty Strengthened government Enforced laws Put down revolts

Peter the Great Visited the West Wanted reform Russian society – “Westernize” it Really wanted their technology Institute Western manners

Westernization Took control of the Russian Orthodox Church Hired European officers to train his soldiers Raised womens’ status Removed traditional veils Marry of their own free will Beard Tax: “Beards are a ridiculous ornament” Ordered the nobles to wear Western fashions

St. Petersburg Would be the seaport Peter wanted Somewhere from 25,000 to 100,000 people died in the building of the city