1. Absolute Monarchy in Russia
Chapter 4 section 5

2. Ruler Peter the Great Early life:
At age 10 came to the throne, but did not take control of government until 1689
In 1697 he studied western technology, and noted the manners and homes.
He adopted western ideas, technology, and culture or policy of westernization.

3. Most autocratic of Europe’s absolute monarchs.
Leadership:
Most autocratic of Europe’s absolute monarchs.
He wanted to do three things:
Strengthen the military
Expanded Russian borders
Centralize Royal power
One way to strengthen his power was to make landowning nobles or boyars to serve the state.

4. Expansion:
Search for warm-water port
Located along the Black Sea, a port that was free of ice all year was a warm-water port.
Peter the Great attempted to fight the Ottoman Empire and gain the warm-water port but was defeated.
War with Sweden
Peter the Great first suffered defeats over the Baltic region.
In 1709 Peter defeated the Swedes and won land along the Baltic Sea.

5. Peter built a magnificent new capital city called St. Petersburg
Peter’s City
Peter built a magnificent new capital city called St. Petersburg
The city located on the swampy shores of Neva River was to open a “window on the west”
The city was symbol of Peter’s desire to forge a modern Russia
Toward the Pacific
Peter signed a treaty with Qing China to define their common borders east.

6. Vitus Bering a Danish navigator explored an area known as the Bering Strait between Siberia and Alaska
Russia After the Ruler:
Expanded Russian territory
Gained ports on the Baltic Sea
Created a mighty army
Ended Russia’s long period of isolation

7. Ruler: Catherine the Great
Early life:
German princess
At age of 15 wed to the throne of Russia
Czar Peter III was murdered and Czarina Catherine the Great took the throne

8. Leadership:
An Efficient Ruler
She reorganized the provincial government
She codified the laws
She began education for boys and girls
She embraced western ideas
A Ruthless Absolute Monarch
She allowed boyars tax exemptions
She allowed boyars to increase their powers over the peasants
Conditions for Russia grew worse during Catherine the Greats’ reign.

9. Three Monarchs Catherine the Great, Frederick the Great, and Emperor
Expansion:
War with Ottoman Empire where Catherine the Great expanded her borders and gained warm-water port on the Black Sea
Partition of Poland
Three Monarchs Catherine the Great, Frederick the Great, and Emperor
Joseph II agree to divide up Poland instead of fighting one another.

10. Russia After the Ruler:
Absolute Monarchs ruled 4 out of five leading powers in Europe.
Radical changes shatter French monarchy, upset the balance of power and revolutionize European societies.