The development of Russia From Duchy, to Tsardom, to Empire

Russian language and religion Cyrillic alphabet St Cyril and Methodius Russian Orthodox Church

Growth of Russia in Europe ( )

Contemporary Russia

East or West? Is Russia a western nation in the East or an eastern nation in the West? Russian history and socio-political developments run PARALLEL to European history but DISTINCT Shares Christian faith, albeit Orthodox as opposed to Catholic or Protestant Shares more similarities with Ottoman Empire in absolutism

Kievan Rus "proto-russia" centered around present day Ukraine in the city of Kiev Loose but very real political unification of Eastern Slavs Again, Eastern Orthodox religious Feudalistic in nature organized around boyard nobility and commoner peasantry Collapses due to Mongol invasion - or the Golden Horde

Images of Kiev Chicken Kiev lolololol

Mongol Yoke Conquests of Genghis Khan in 12th- 13th Centuries (1100s-1200s) and Mongol armies decimate opposition in largest land empire in history Extends from Korea to plains of Central Europe Kiev is sacked - Destroy Kievan Rus' leadership and rule Eastern Slavs ruthlessly from capital city Saray on Volga River --> Mongol Yoke Rebellious cities and provinces punished with death and destruction

Moscow replaces Kiev "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" Alexander Nevsky, prince of Moscow is "particularly adept" at serving Mongol overlords Crush popular uprising and delivered high taxes to Mongol treasuries Ivan III (r ) expands territory and replaces Mongol Khan as supreme ruler of Eastern Slavic lands

Moscow The "Third Rome" Leader in repression for nearly 600 years!

The First Tsar Muscovite princes eventually take the title of "Grand Prince" After the fall of Constantinople (WHAT YEAR?) leads to Russian claims of being the heirs of Rome's legacy Coupled with Orthodox Church claims of "holy russia" adds to idea of legitimate and religiously sanctioned rule

Ivan IV (r ) is first Grand Prince of Moscow to take the title Tsar of Russians - claque of Roman title of "Caesar" Victim of child abuse leads to aggressive demeanor Marries Anastasia of the Romanov family Rules as an autocrat Ivan IV aka "Ivan the terrible" The First Czar (or Tsar)

Consolidation and Expansion under Ivan the Terrible Destroys remnants of Mongols in Kazan and Astrakhan by Caspian Sea attentions turn west and begins wars with Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth death of Anastasia leads to incredible repression - all opponents to Tsar brutally murdered with help of complicit nobles

Ivan was indeed Terrible Nobles in service of autocrat rewarded with confiscated lands of those opposed to Czar Creates a service nobility that dispenses justice as Czar sees fit Even commoners lived in fear of the Czars loyal boyar riders Precursors to the modern day secret police They are the nazgûl...

The Cossacks - the peasant warrior Fleeing peasants escape eastward into the seemingly endless steppe Ivan's heavy hand depopulates central Russian lands Russian peasantry live outside the reach of Russian sovereignty Arm themselves into fighting bands of mounted soldiers - the Cossacks

"The Time of Troubles" p Czar has near complete control of society and economy Death of Ivan the terrible leads to unsure succession of Russian throne known as "time of the troubles" in Russian history Peasants call for a "true tsar" to liberate the masses Nobles elect Romanov dynasty to succeed Ivan peasants are completely enserfed under rule of Alexis I

Russian Peasantry and the Russian Church Increasingly oppressed by Ivan's punitive taxes and disregard for individual rights Under Romanov dynasty, while nobles are rewarded for service peasants see taxes rise Schism created by Patriarch Nikon in the Russian Orthodox Church over liturgy and religious reform Peasants that cling to "old beliefs" are persecuted and many self-immolate in protest

Cossack Revolt Cossacks revolt under the oppressive reign of Alexis move up the Volga River attracting army of urban poor Stenka Razin leads revolt Sought to disestablish the ruling aristocracy and young Tsardom of the Romanovs Crushed by common interests of boyard nobles

Peter the Great Peter the Great (r ) Creates own unique brand of absolutism coupled with a drive toward Westernization