Key Question: How did the Russian Empire develop The Rise of an Empire Key Question: How did the Russian Empire develop

History In the 800s, Slavic groups established many settlements in what is now European Russia Then, in the 900s, the country came under control of a group called Varangians. These people were most likely Vikings from Scandinavia. The Varangians were also called "Rus," which is where the name Russia comes from. In the 1200s, the Rus fell to Mongol invaders.

Moscow's Prince Gains Power The Mongols allowed the Prince of Moscow to collect taxes and keep a portion of them. This, along with trade, helped Moscow to grow in power. At the same time, Mongol control became weaker. The Moscow state eventually broke away from the Mongols. Ivan IV became the first czar. A czar is the title for rulers of Russia from the mid-1500s to the early 1900s. Ivan became known as Ivan the Terrible because he was a harsh ruler who murdered hundreds and even killed his eldest son. Ivan and the other rulers who came after him passed laws that bound peasants (serfs) to the land. Serfdom (peasants working the land) was the main economic activity until the late 1800s

He introduced European-style customs, factories and schools in Russia. After Ivan's death, Russia suffered under a series of weak rulers until Peter the Great became ruler in 1696. Peter the Great was strongly influenced by the West and worked hard to modernize Russia. He introduced European-style customs, factories and schools in Russia. A new capital was named after him: St. Petersburg Peter also reorganized Russia's government into a system of well-organized units. Peter the Great

Russia Expands After Peter the Great's death in1725, several rivals struggled to gain the throne. Eventually, Catherine the Great came to power. Catherine gained the northern shore of the Black Sea and the Crimea though a series of wars with the Ottoman Empire. By gaining access to the sea, Russia could trade year-round. Catherine also added much of Poland to its territory. After her death, czars continued to add to the Russian territory. By the late 1800s, Russia controlled land across Central Asia to the Pacific. Russia built the Trans-Siberian Railroad, which was completed in 1916. The railroad extended 6,000 miles and helped develop Siberia.

Trans Siberian RailRoad

The Bolshevik Revolution In 1917, the Bolshevik Party overthrew Russia Czar Nicholas II. The Bolsheviks believed that all political power and means of production should be held by the government in the name of the people. This type of government is known as communism. In 1922, the Bolsheviks created a new Communist nation called the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), also known as the Soviet Union.

Joseph Stalin In 1929, Joseph Stalin became dictator. He was a cruel ruler who had millions of his enemies executed. He also set up a totalitarian government, This means that the government controlled every aspect of public and private life. Stalin controlled all newspapers, film, radio and other sources of information. He censored those who did not glorify his achievements. He also built a police state to enforce his power. Biography: Stalin

Collapse of a Superpower The Soviet Union joined the Allies during World War II and gained control of many countries in Europe during and after the war. Before long, a deep distrust developed between Russia and the West. The United States and the Soviet Union began to develop more and more powerful nuclear weapons in an arms race. However, traditional warfare never broke out between the two. This period became known as the Cold War. The cost of building nuclear weapons caused Soviet citizens to wait in line for hours to buy ordinary supplies, such as food, since they were in short supply. In 1985, Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev tried to revive the economy by reducing government control. He practiced a policy of openness, which resulted in Soviet citizens complaining about the economy and demand freedom. The Cold War

Questions: Write them down and Answer 1. Why was the Moscow state able to break away from Mongol rule? What were the major accomplishments of Catherine the Great? What caused the Cold War?