1. Absolute Rulers of Russia

2. Draw this table in your notes
Russia
Western Europe
Labor
Religion
Geography

3. What’s Different in Russia?
Western Europe
Labor
Serfs are property
Cannot leave the land
Are bought and sold
Won freedom during ren/ref
Moved to cities
Religion
Orthodox Christian
Catholics & Protestants
Geography
Isolated
Few seaports – none warm water
Trade & political connections are easily made

4. Ivan IV (the terrible) Absolute ruler Takes throne at 3
Fighting between the boyars (nobles) about controlling Ivan
@16 Ivan takes over and crowns himself Czar

5. Ivan’s Good Period At age 16 he seized power and became czar
Added land to Russia
Gave Russia a code of laws

6. Ivan becomes “Ivan the Terrible”
His wife died – he blamed boyars
Has secret police kill the boyars & associates
Thousands died

7. Ivan & Torture Tortured and executed thousands of people
Once had an entire city killed because a few people planned an uprising
Ivan tortured people himself
He came up with elaborate types of torture:
Burning people alive in a huge pot of water
Frying people to death
Tearing off their limbs

8. After Ivan Time of Troubles Boyars struggling for power
Heirs of czar died mysteriously

9. Romonov’s Michael Romanov starts the Romanov dynasty
Strengthened government
Enforced laws
Put down revolts

10. Peter the Great Visited the West
Wanted reform Russian society – “Westernize” it
Really wanted their technology
Institute Western manners

11. Westernization Took control of the Russian Orthodox Church
Hired European officers to train his soldiers
Raised womens’ status
Removed traditional veils
Marry of their own free will
Beard Tax: “Beards are a ridiculous ornament”
Ordered the nobles to wear Western fashions

12. St. Petersburg Would be the seaport Peter wanted
Somewhere from 25,000 to 100,000 people died in the building of the city