1. Rulers of Russia and Central Europe
Main Idea
The czars of Russia struggled with the westernization of their empire, while powerful families battled for control of Central Europe.
Reading Focus
How did Ivan IV strengthen the Russian monarchy?
What reforms did Peter the Great make in Russia?
How did the rule of Catherine the Great affect Russia?
What states formed in Central Europe in the 1600s and 1700s?

2. The Monarchy of Ivan IV
In the 1500s Russia far behind western Europe in technical advancement and centralized government
Russia run by church officials and boyars, or landowners
Had conservative viewpoints
1546, young prince claimed title of czar, put Russia on different course
Title was version of Latin word caesar, or emperor
New czar, Ivan, intended to rule without limits on power
His own madness created chaos
Rule Without Limits
During early years, Ivan IV made many reforms—created general council that included merchants, lower-level nobles
Promoted military officers on merit; drew up legal code
Expanded Russia’s borders, trade
Reforms of Ivan IV
As a result of such achievements, the years from 1547 to 1563 are known as Ivan’s “good period.”

3. Ivan the Terrible Private Police Force During 1560s, Ivan changed
Strict policies, violent actions sealed reputation as Ivan the Terrible
Suspicious of closest advisors; sent them away, killed supporters
Was convinced wife was murdered, people conspiring against him
Private Police Force
Created private police force to investigate, punish opposition
Men dressed in black, rode black horses
Controlled almost half of Russia’s territory in Ivan’s name
Brutally punished anyone who spoke out against czar’s policies

4. Descent into Mental Illness
Last Years of Ivan
1581, killed his own son, next in line to be czar
Descent into mental illness seemed complete
Descent into Mental Illness
Death of Ivan’s son may have been accident, but left Russia without heir to throne
Uncertainty about succession, economic problems, foreign invasions made chaotic period known as Time of Troubles
1613, Michael, relative of Ivan’s first wife, crowned czar; first of Romanov dynasty
Dynasty lasted until 1917
Time of Troubles

5. Peter the Great Early Rule Building a Navy
About 70 years later, Peter I crowned czar. Became known as Peter the Great for his efforts to transform Russia into a modern state.
1682, Peter became czar while a child; sister ruled in his place
Age 17, removed sister from throne, took power for himself
Tall, strong man
Had strong personality, boundless energy
One of first acts, stormed Azov, Black Sea port held by Turks
Early Rule
Attack disaster, but inspired Peter to build navy
Labored side-by-side with thousands of carpenters
Built hundreds of ships
New navy took up Azov campaign
Turks surrendered
Building a Navy

6. Modernization and Reform
Westernization
Peter realized country needed to modernize to catch up with rest of Europe
Wanted westernization to bring elements of Western culture to Russia
1697, journeyed to western Europe to see what Russia needed to modernize
New Skills
Peter traveled in disguise, was sometimes recognized anyway
Learned hands-on skills, especially shipbuilding
Recruited European experts to bring skills to Russia
Rebellion
Trip cut short by rebellion of streltsy, military corps with political influence
Thought streltsy wanted sister on throne; had members tortured, executed
Disbanded streltsy, organized more modern army

7. Reforms of Peter I Cues from West Modern Russia Modernized army
Brought church under state control
Built up Russian industry
Started first newspaper in Russia
Sponsored new schools
Modernized calendar, promoted officials on service, not social status
Supported education; believed Russians needed to learn more about science from West
Wanted Russians to adopt European-style clothing, grooming
Cut off boyars’ traditional long coats, beards to look European
Cues from West
Not always successful, but considered founder of modern Russia for efforts
Modern Russia

9. Peter also founded a new city
St. Petersburg
Peter also founded a new city
Early 1700s, fought Sweden to acquire warm-water port
Other ports choked by ice much of year
Port farther south on Baltic Sea to keep Russia open to western trade all year, connect Russia to west
On land won from Sweden, Peter built new capital, St. Petersburg
Russia’s government moved to new city
Featured Western-style architecture

10. Recall
Name three ways in which Peter the Great attempted to westernize Russia.
Answer(s): by encouraging men to shave off their beards, encouraging people to adopt European styles of dress, building a new capital with Western-style architecture

11. Catherine the Great
Russia’s next important ruler was actually a German princess who came to Russia to marry a grandson of Peter the Great. She became known as Catherine the Great.
Husband became Czar Peter III
Catherine and many nobles grew angry at his incompetent, weak rule
Catherine seized power, was declared czarina of Russia
Takes Power
Catherine saw self as true successor of Peter the Great
Worked to build on his westernization efforts
To emphasize legitimacy of her claim, built statue honoring Peter
Honoring Peter I
Influenced by European thinkers—believed strong, wise ruler could improve life for subjects
Reformed legal, education systems
Removed restrictions on trade; promoted science, the arts
Early Reforms

12. Challenges to Catherine’s Rule
Conflicts
Catherine tried to reform Russia, was distracted by conflict
Faced war in Poland, where people wanted freedom from Russian influence
1768, Ottoman Empire joined Polish cause
War and Rebellion
Eventually won war, took over half of Poland, territory on Black Sea
While war raging, Catherine faced popular rebellion inside Russia
Man claiming to be Peter III traveled countryside, leading ragtag army
Strengthening the Monarchy
In the end, man captured, beheaded, rebellion put down
Rebellion convinced Catherine she needed to strengthen monarchy in rural areas; put local governments in hands of landowners, nobles

13. Catherine the Great

15. Monarchy and Conflict in Central Europe
1500s, 1600s
Central European rulers never became absolute monarchs
Holy Roman Empire headed by single emperor, but did not have total authority
Imperial Power
Holy Roman Empire included dozens of small states
Each had own ruler who fought vigorously against increased imperial power
Hapsburg Family
Since 1450s, all Holy Roman Emperors came from single family—the Hapsburgs
1600s, Thirty Years’ War began
Continent-Wide Affair
Attempt by Hapsburg emperor to exert authority launched war
Alliances between Hapsburgs, other European monarchs, made war continent-wide affair

16. The Thirty Years War Catholics against Protestants Religious Revolt
War began as religious dispute
1618, official representing Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II, a Catholic, ordered two Protestant churches in Prague be shut down
Religious Revolt
Local Protestants furious, threw emperor’s representatives out palace windows onto rubbish heap
Emperor’s attempt to control religion sparked revolt throughout region
Rebellion Grew
Nobles from 2 German states rebelled against emperor; nobles from other states soon joined them
Rulers of other countries became involved as well

17. Choosing Sides Treaty and Toleration
Monarchs of Spain, also members of Hapsburg family, joined war on Ferdinand’s side
King of France, Spain’s rival, joined Protestant opposition
Kings of Denmark, Sweden also joined on Protestant side
Treaty and Toleration
War dragged on until 1648, had devastating effects on Germany
Two sides agreed to Treaty of Westphalia to end war
Treaty extended religious toleration to both Catholics, Protestants
Also reduced even more the power of the Holy Roman Emperor
Strengthened rulers of states within it

18. Austria and Prussia
Among the rulers who gained the most from the Treaty of Westphalia were the leaders of Austria and Prussia. Austria was governed by the Hapsburg family, while Prussia’s rulers came from a rival family, the Hohenzollerns.
1740, Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI died without male heir
Before he died, approved document called Pragmatic Sanction, stating empire could be passed to female heir
Pragmatic Sanction
Charles VI’s daughter Maria Theresa could now take throne
Hohenzollerns had different plan
Frederick II of Prussia, Frederick the Great, seized Silesia
Offered Maria Theresa an alliance
Reforms of Ivan IV
Frederick promised Maria Theresa to help her husband become the Holy Roman Emperor.

19. Monarchy and Conflict in Central Europe
Maria Theresa turned Frederick’s offer down, War of Austrian Succession broke out, 1740
Spain, France, two German states entered war on Prussia’s side
Each hoped to gain territory
1748, with so much against her, Maria Theresa asked for peace
Prussia kept Silesia, putting Prussia in position of real power

20. Continued Rivalry Another War Prussia Rebounds
Prussia’s victory only intensified rivalry between Austria and Hungary
Not long until war broke out again
1756, Seven Years’ War began
On one side Prussia, Great Britain; on the other Austria, France, Russia
Another War
During first part of war, Prussia on verge of defeat; at one point Austrian, Russian forces occupied capital of Berlin
Russia pulled out, allowing Prussia to regain strength, eventually becoming strongest military power in Europe
1763, war ended, but rivalry far from over; struggle for control of Central Europe continued
Prussia Rebounds

22. What were three wars that affected Central Europe?
Recall
What were three wars that affected Central Europe?
Answer(s): Thirty Years’ War, War of the Austrian Succession, Seven Years’ War