Chapter 19 The Age of Absolutism 19.2 Russia in the Age of Absolutism

I. Isolation and a New Dynasty Reasons for isolation differences- Asian influence, Eastern Orthodox, Cyrillic Alphabet Geography- separated- landlocked New Dynasty Ivan the Terrible died (1613)- Michael Romanov gains power Romanovs rule for the next 300 years

II. Peter the Great (1689-1725) Ruthless but great vision Foreign Mission Acquire warm water ports- Sea of Azov and Black Sea Visited western Europe- disguised learn their methods

II. Peter the Great (1689-1725) cont. C. Westernizing Russia 1. improved army 2. St. Petersburg- new city- closer to west 3. social changes- women less isolated, shaved beards, dress western 4. “service nobility” 5. Absolute Power= resentment by nobles

III. Catherine the Great (1762-1796) Policies Support the arts, science, literature, and theater Continue Russian expansion Poland 1. first, second, and third partitions of Poland- split by Russia, Prussia, and Austria Expansion Eastward Siberia Alaska

Fun Facts Russia is the largest country in the world Russia houses more than 100 different ethnic groups, representing a multiplicity of national histories and cultures and distinct language groups, including Indo-European Slavic, Turkic, Finno-Ugric and others. When Russian ruler Peter the Great discovered that his wife Catherine had been unfaithful, he had the head of her lover, William Morris, chopped off and placed in a large jar of alcohol. Peter insisted that the jar remain on Catherine’s bedside table to remind her of her adultery Catherine the Great of Russia was so outraged to discover the presence of dandruff on her collar that she imprisoned her hairdresser in an iron cage for three years to stop the news spreading Ivan the Terrible of Russia was so pleased with the newly built Moscow church of St Basil that he blinded the two architects so that they would never be able to come up with anything better