1. Early
Russian
History
Ms. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY
Adapted by Reiner Kolodinski

2. Former Soviet Region Compared in Latitude & Area with the United States

3. Russia’s Time Zones

4. Topography of Russia
Ural Mts.
Amur River – 2700 miles

5. Rich Soil of the Steppes
Chernozem Soil

6. What does all this mean? Russia is HUGE! Russia has vast resources!
Russia is very DIVERSE!
Geographically & Demographically
Russia is complex!

7. Themes in Russian History
Expansion by conquest.
Need for warm-water ports.
The necessity of a strong, central government.

8. Political, economic, cultural center
Novgorod
Middle Ages
Political, economic, cultural center

9. Early Russia Vladimir of Kiev
10th c. ruler who brought Greek Orthodoxy to R
Yaroslav the Wise
Developed Kiev
Pursued W contact
Rise of Boyar class
Great, White & Little (U) Russian cultural groups emerge
Autonomous kingdoms emerge
Mongols Invade “The Golden Horde”

10. Early Byzantine Influences: Orthodox Christianity

11. Early Byzantine Influences: Orthodox Christianity

12. Early Byzantine Influences: Cyrillic Alphabet

13. Russian Landed Aristocracy
“Boyars”

14. Early Russian Expansion: Moving North

15. Battle on the Ice (Neva River) Against the Swedes
Alexander Nevsky:
Battle on the Ice (Neva River) Against the Swedes
Teutonic Knight

16. The Mongols Invade Russia

17. Ivan (the Great) III (1462-1505)
Ivan III Unified Northern Russia + ended Mongol rule
Ivan III Tearing the Great Khan’s Letter Requesting More Tribute in 1480

18. Russia in the Late 1500s

19. Ivan IV “Terrible” Tsar at 16 Reforms, Trade Modernized Legal Code
Expanded Territory
Wife died >> ‘Dark’ Ivan
“Oprichnina”
War – Ruin - Tragedy

20. Tsar
Michael Romanov
(r )
“Time of Troubles” >>>>
Established Romanov Dynasty
Stability
Beware the Streltsy

21. Romanov Dynasty ( )
Romanov Family Crest

22. The Pendulum of Russian History
Pro-West For Progress & Change Encourage New Ideas, Technologies, etc.
Anti-West Isolationist Xenophobic Ultra-Conservative
A few Tsars
Intellectual elites
Merchants/businessmen
Young members of the middle class.
Most Tsars
Russian Orthodox Church
Military
Boyars
Serfs = peasants
REFORM-MINDED LEADER
DEMAGOGUE

23. Peter the Great (r. 1682-1725) Secure the Throne
Peter or Ivan V?
Secure the Throne
Control Boyars & Streltsy
Modernize military & navy
Expand military by “conscription”
Westernize Russia “Beard Tax”, clothes, court
Expand Territory

24. Russia vs. Sweden After the Great Northern War
Warm Water Port
Defeats Sweden
Peace of Nystad
St. Petersburg built western style

25. St. Petersburg, Russia
New Capital & Western-style Court