AP World History: Russia Absolutism Period 4

I Ivan III “The Great” ruled 1462-1505 In the 13th century, Moscow was the capital of Russia, a small state which paid tribute and provided forced labor to the Khans of the Golden Horde. (Remember the Mongols?) Over time the Moscovite princes expanded their territory, and eventually gained independence under Ivan III, known as Ivan the Great. By the time of his death, Ivan the Great had tripled the size of Muscovy.

II Ivan IV “The Terrible” (1530 – 1584) Ivan IV was the grandson of Ivan the Great. 1547 he proclaimed himself czar instead of the Grand Duke of Russia. C) He built St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow “The czar is in nature like all men, but in authority he is like the highest G-d.” – Ivan the Terrible Ivan the Terrible was alleged to have tortured small animals as a child. However, there is also evidence that he had been an intelligent and sensitive child who was neglected by the boyars (Russian nobles) after his mother’s death.

Ivan IV “The Terrible” Continued… D) Ivan IV had 3 main goals: 1. Resist the Mongols 2. Conquer more land and centralize the Russian government 3. Gain access to the Black Sea (and a warm water port) He succeeded at Goals # 1 and #2, but not #3 E) After the death of his wife in 1560, Ivan IV began a 24 year reign of terror. Paranoid of betrayal, he sent 1000s of boyars (nobles) to Siberia and confiscated their land, and executed many others. It was during this period that Ivan beat his pregnant daughter-in-law, causing a miscarriage, killed his son in a subsequent fit of rage, and blinded the architect of St. Basil's Cathedral. It was also during this time that he created the Oprichniki, the first official secret Russian police force [who rode on black horses and dressed all in black]. – biography.com

St. Basil’s Cathedral

St. Basil’s Cathedral Interior

III Peter the Great 1682, 10 year old Peter “The Great” became czar. Due to the destruction by the Mongols, Russia was very behind Western Europe. 1697 Peter traveled to Western Europe with the intention of “borrowing” ideas that would advance Russian society. Peter traveled to Amsterdam to study shipbuilding; he wanted to create Russia’s first navy. He actually took on a pseudonym (fake name) and worked at a shipyard! St. Petersburg, his namesake city, was modeled after Amsterdam’s canals!

Peter the Great Continued… Modernized the Russian military and created a navy based on the river Don and the Baltic Sea. Created schools specializing in math, engineering, medicine and science. He imported teachers from Western Europe! Built factories Forced men to cut their beards to adhere to European fashion.

Fashion of Peter the Great

Peter the Great Continued… C) Because the Baltic Sea freezes in winter, Peter the Great wanted a warm water port. The nearest warm water port was the Black Sea. Peter fought the Ottoman Turks for it but failed. D) He sent explorers to Siberia and Alaska. E) He signed treaty with China defining their borders in the East. “I mentioned in the relation of the former year [1698] the Tsar's coming out of his own country; on which I will now enlarge. He came this winter over to England and stayed some months among us. I waited often on him, and was ordered by both the king and the archbishops and bishops to attend upon him and to offer him such information of our religion and constitution as he was willing to receive... He is a man of very hot temper, soon inflamed and very brutal in his passion... He is mechanically turned, and seems designed by nature rather to be a ship carpenter than a great prince. This was his chief study and exercise while he stayed here. He wrought much with his own hands and made all about him work at the models of his ships.” Bishop Burnet, Peter the Great 1698

100 years later, Russian poet Pushkin wrote: IV Peter’s City St. Petersburg was Russia’s “Window on the West” B) Designed by Western engineers to imitate Amsterdam 100 years later, Russian poet Pushkin wrote: “…Here we at Nature’s own behest Shall break a window to the West…”

Amsterdam vs. St. Petersburg

IV Catherine the Great Born a German princess, she came at 15 to Russia to wed Czar Peter III. In 1762 her husband was murdered, and Catherine took the throne. B) Like Peter the Great, Catherine wanted to modernize Russia. This led to many reforms: She promoted the French language and culture She increased the size of Russia. She conquered Poland and divided it up with Prussia (eastern Germany). She fought the Ottoman Turks for access to the Black Sea. Unlike Peter the Great, she was successful! She promoted many ideals of the Renaissance and the Enlightenment (Age of Reason). She was a patron of the arts. Much of her art collection is now at the Hermitage Museum. However, she also gave greater rights to the boyars (Russian nobles), thereby giving them greater control over their serfs.

Catherine the Great Continued…

Catherine the Great’s Palace

Focus Questions How and why did Russia come under absolutist rule? How should Ivan the Great, Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, and Catherine the Great be remembered? In what ways were they absolutist? What achievements (if any) did they accomplish for Russia? Were the achievements worth it?