1. The Rise of Russia

2. 1. How have geography, climate & distance directed and limited Russian expansion?
2. How might geography, climate & distance affect the governance of Russia?
3. What states probably opposed Russian expansion?

3. CENTRAL EUROPE The middle of the continent was defined by the HRE
Politically, central Europe was comprised of numerous principalities, Church lands, and free towns
By the end of the 15th century , the HRE was an empire in name only
Central Europe was rich in minerals and timber

4. THE FORMATION OF STATES
Factors involved in the formation of states in Europe in the late 15th and early 16th century included geography, population, natural resources, social characteristics, language, and religion
Furthermore, advances in warfare made consolidation easier -- what could not be inherited or married could be conquered
In combination these factors slowly moved Europe toward formation of states
Caution! Europe under construction!

5. EASTERN CONFIGURATION
At the beginning of the 16th century, the principality of Muscovy was the largest political unit in Europe
Under Ivan III, “the Great” ( ), Muscovy expanded greatly largely due to deterioration of the Mongol Empire
Ivan III extended the privileges of the nobility and organized a military class
Ivan III
Russia’s greatest historian, Sergei Platonov wrote:
“The Grand Duke Ivan, endowed with quick wit and a will of iron completed the unification of the Russian lands under Moscow’s hand… “

6. Medieval background (1050 - 1300)
Personal and economic freedom for peasants increased, serfdom nearly disappeared in most of Europe
Hereditary serfdom took place in Poland, Prussia and Russia ( )
Hereditary subjugation – peasants were bound to their lords from one generation to the next as well as to the land

7. Collecting Taxes in Russia
Overall the peasants had less power in Eastern Europe than in Western Europe
Serfdom increased because of political not economic reasons
Typical king was only first among equals
Westerner began to regard eastern Europe as culturally and morally inferior
Real losers were the peasants and middle class
Landlords controlled the courts (justice system)
Collecting Taxes in Russia

8. Ivan I served Mongols and strengthen Moscow –Mongols conquered the
Mongol controlled Russia- used Russian aristocrats as servants and tax collectors. (13th – 16th Century)
Ivan I served Mongols and strengthen Moscow –Mongols conquered the
Kievan state in 13th century (Golden Horde) (Tartar)
Ivan III – stopped acknowledging the Mongol khan
Prince of Moscow – the tsar
Eastern Orthodoxy rejects the authority of the pope – main difference
Ivan the Terrible – first to take the title Tsar of Russia, executed many Muscovite boyars and their peasants. His ownership of all land, trade and industry restricted economic development.

9. Expansionism under the Tsars
Ivan lll (the Great) from Moscow – liberate from Mongols
- used nationalism & Orthodox loyalties
- by 1480, large, independent state
Mongol Legacy
- reduced culture & economy
- left local administration alone
literacy declines
economy agricultural
Russia is 3rd Rome
Ivan restores centralized rule
- supervises church
Ivan lV (the Terrible)
- kills nobility (boyars) on charge of conspiracy

10. Impact of Mongolians on Russia
Military tactics and organization
Development of trade routes.
Postal road network
Census
Fiscal system
Eastern influence remained strong well until the 18th century, when Russian rulers made a conscious effort to Westernize their country.

11. Muscovite gained their initial power through services rendered the the Mongols
Rise of Russian monarchy was largely a response to the external threat of the Asiatic Mongols
The tsars and boyars struggled over who would rule the state, the tsar won and created a “service nobility” who held the tsar’s land on the condition that they serve in his army (tsar means Caesar-absolute ruler)
Ivan IV – Ivan the Terrible – fought wars against Mongols, launched a reign of terror against boyar nobility, he murdered leading boyars and confiscated their estates (no private property.)
He monopolized mining and business activity, he assumed he owned all trade as he owned all land
Many peasants fled his rule to the newly conquered territories forming outlaw armies called Cossacks

12. The Cossacks Expand Across Siberia: Late 1500s to
mid 1600s

13. Impact of shift Russians sent Cossacks to hold the newly acquired land
Cossacks were peasants who migrated to these new areas
Trade from China was refocused through Russia

14. 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.”

15. 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

16. Last Years of Ivan
1565, harshness continued; seized land from 12,000 boyars
Ordered killing of thousands of people in Novgorod; suspected they wanted to separate from Russia
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

17. IVAN IV’S ADMINISTRATION
Ivan IV’s most important achievement was a system of central administration
He created departments of state which resulted in more efficient management of military and revenues
Russian surfs lost their right of movement from estate to estate and overall had far fewer rights than their western counterparts
Russian peasants

18. There was no heir, relatives of the tsar fought against each other
Summery of the “Time of Troubles”
“Time of Troubles” – Increased pressured on the peasants to pay for his wars led to a breakdown of the Muscovite state after Ivan IV death.
There was no heir, relatives of the tsar fought against each other
Swedish and Polish armies invaded
Cossack bands slaughter many nobles and officials
Ivan killed his son, and the “Time of Troubles” was caused by a dispute in the line of succession
Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow – onion shaped domes a striking example of powerful Byzantine influences on Russian culture

19. Time of Troubles boyars try to control government
Sweden & Poland seize territory
Michael Romanov was elected tsar by the nobility in 1613
no lasting constraints on tsar’s powers
tsar Michael restores internal order
- drive out foreign invaders
Romanovs brought abut the total enserfment of the people, while the military obligations on the nobility were relaxed
The Church became dependent on the state for its authority

20. Patterns of Expansion focus on Central Asia
- To Caspian Sea & Ural Mountains
1500s – to Siberia
Cossacks (peasant adventurers)
- occupy new lands
nobles & bureaucrats receive land grants in territories
increases agricultural lands
& labor sources

21. trading connections with Asian neighbors
slavery exists until 1700s
trading connections with Asian neighbors
eliminate independent Central Asia as source of nomadic invasions
becomes a multicultural state
Muslims not forced to assimilate to Russian culture

22. Autocrats Michael was the first Romanov
He was able to establish some stability but did not re-establish the autocracy of the emperor or czar
He expanding into the Ukraine and re-united Kiev with the rest of Russia
He waged a successful war against Poland

23. While others were reforming…
Alexis was able to re-establish the power of the czar by outlawing assemblies of the boyars
He also re-organized the Orthodox Church
Those who would not reform were called the Old believers and many were exiled to Siberia for their conservative views

24. What was the nature of early Russian expansion under the Ivans
Early expansion focused on central Asia
Need to drive Mongols farther from Russia
Extended to Ural Mountains on west and Caspian Sea to the south
Recruited peasants to migrate to newly conquered territories
Served both agricultural and military purposes-Cossacks
New territories similar to Western colonialism, became economically dependent on Russia
Eliminated independent central Asia as source of nomadic invasions
Incorporated many ethnic and religious groups into empire

25. Russian society actually very different from West
serfdom & strong peasant culture
Russian nobility important
small group of great landholders lived Western style lives in cities

26. Serfs before Mongols – peasants relatively free
1500s – encourage serfdom to control them
1649 – serfdom hereditary
other laws tie serfs to land, give landlords more authority
bought, sold, punished

27. Eastern Europe peasants similar
- work on large estates growing grain for export
owners then bought luxury goods
few rights
– village governments control part of life
poor & illiterate
pay high taxes
condition deteriorates throughout 1700s

28. Trade & Economics 95% population rural
few artisans (most manufacturing rural based)
most trade handled by Westerners
- few merchants
Peter’s reforms increase trade
- yet nobility prevent a strong commercial class
ag & manufacturing methods remain traditional
strengths
– revenue good enough for expanding empire
commerce with Central Asia

29. How did the Mongol occupation affect Russian Civilization?
Moscow princes gained political experience from being tax collectors for Mongols
never reshaped basic Russian values (Mongols more interested in tributes not governing)
most remained Christian
local issues handled locally
reduced vigor of Russian cultural life
lowered literacy among priests
economic life deteriorated (become purely agricultural)
dependent on peasant labor

30. What was the nature of Russian expansion under the Ivans?
focus on central Asia
desire to push former Mongol overlords back
south to Caspian Sea, east to Ural mountains & beyond
recruited peasants to migrate to seized land (Cossacks)
expansion territories have frontier quality
move into western Siberia
offers tsars a way to reward loyal nobles (give them estates in new territories)
provides new agricultural areas & sources of labor
eliminates independent central Asia
adds to Russia diverse people – especially Muslim (makes it multicultural)

31. What was the nature of Russian serfdom?
power of nobility increases 1600 – 1700s
gives government a way to satisfy nobility & regulate peasants when govt. didn’t have the means to rule peasants directly
had been basically free farmers before Mongols
serfs tied to land, hereditary status, born to it
close to slavery, serfs could be bought & sold, punished, essentially enslave their own people
whole villages could be sold as manufacturing labor
did use village governments to regulate lives, rely on community ties
illiterate & poor
paid high taxes, owed labor to landlords or government (obrok)
economic & legal situation of the peasantry deteriorated

32. What is the basis for the culture of the Russian masses?
Orthodox Christianity
village life
serfdom
agriculture
taxes

33. What characteristics did Eastern Europe share with Russia?
coerced labor used to produce grain for export
Western merchants bring in manufactured goods & luxury items
serfs taxed & policed by landlords
intensification of estate agriculture & serf labor
eastern Europe starts to be economically subordinate to the West