1. 16.5 - Absolute Monarchy in Russia

2. Peter the Great Modernizes Russia
Peter, takes 10 in 1682 (control 1689)
Fascination w/ “foreign cultures”
“westernization” led to his need to rule as an “autocrat” - most absolute ruler

3. Controlling Church & Nobles
Church brought under state control
Boyars (russian nobility) forced to serve in civilian or military positions
Bribed boyars by strengthening serfdom (WP’s)

4. Modernizing w/ Force
Western technology, education, simplified russian alphabet,est. academies
Improved infrastructure
Crushed resistance, tortured & executed royal guard (1,000)

5. Peter Expands Borders
Largest standing army in Europe w/ world class navy
Warm water port - Black sea (unaccomplished)
GNW: 1700 lost to 8,000 Swedes, won in 1709

6. Peter Expands Borders (2)
Built St. Petersburg on land from GNW victory - Russia’s “Versailles”
Defined border in west w/ Qing China
Danish Explorer Vitus Bering (Bering Strait) lrgst ctry est.

7. Peter the Great’s Legacy
Died in 1725
Ended isolation, expanded territory, gained ports on Baltic
Used terror to rule, nobles quickly turned back on state, serfdom cont.

8. Catherine “earns” throne
Peter died w/o heir, Romanov power struggle results in - Catherine
German princess, wed to Russia heir, group of army officers loyal to her depose & murder her unstable hubby

9. Catherine the Great Reorg. Gov., codified laws, state-funded education
Embraced western culture (Enlightmnt)
Exempted boyars from taxes, serfdom expanded
Russo-Turkish War (1774): defeats Ottoman empire for warm water port

10. Partition of Poland
1770s, Catherine, Frederick II, & Joseph II divided Poland in 1772 thru agreed upon partition to avoid fighting, 1795 swallowed what was left
1919 Poland reappears…after?