The Russian Empire

Russian Expansion, 1450-1750 Largest landmasses under single rule. Southward into Central Asia Eastward into Siberia Into Alaska & Northern California Westward into Europe Baltic region, Poland, and Ukraine

Territorial Expansion Changed Russia It made Russia a multinational society Russians diminished as a proportion of the overall population It brought valuable resources It made Russia one of the great powers of Europe It made Russia a highly militarized society It reinforced the autocratic character of the Russian empire

Upholding Authority The Czar relied on the landlord class Landlords were given political and economic powers to manage local affairs This helped Russia establish some political stability over its vast empire It tied the fortunes of the landlord to those of the state

Westernization Czar Peter the Great, 1689 to 1725 Some changes were cosmetic Trimming beards Adopting western clothing Importing western culture Some reforms were substantial Education St. Petersburg – a modern capital city Military and economic reforms

The goals of Westernization ❶ Enhance the power of the czar and the state ❷ Enhance the power of the Russian military ❸ Improve Russia’s image abroad

Peter did not want total Westernization!!! No constitutional monarchy No parliamentary tradition No division of powers Peter the Great believed in absolutism No help for ordinary Russians No commercial economy in Russia He did not want a western society He wanted to westernize the upper classes

“The British had an empire, Russia was an empire.”

Between 1450 and 1750 Russia built an empire Just like the western European powers It conquered, settled, and explored It imposed it’s institutions But Russia colonized its neighbors Russia built its empire while it was building a modern Russian state