Russian Czars

1
Russian Czars

• 21-4

2
Ivan III

• Ruled Russia from 1462-1505
• Conquered area around Moscow
• Liberated Russia from the Mongols
• Centralized Russian gov.
• Laid foundation to absolute monarchy

3
Ivan IV (the Terrible)

• Struggled with landowning nobles (boyars)
• Seized power at 16
• Crowned himself czar caesar
• 1547-1560 good period of victories, added
  lands, gave Russia a code of laws, and ruled
  justly

4
Ivan

• 1560 bad period
• Boyars accused of poisoning wife
• Created a police force to hunt down people
• Executed many boyars, families, and peasants
• Killed his oldest son and heir in 1581
• Weak son would rule

5
Romanovs

• Ivans son dies and country has a period of
  turmoil (Time of Troubles)
• Struggle for power, mysterious deaths
• 1613 reps from cities met to choose czar
• Michael Romanov (dynasty ruled for 300 yrs)

6
Russia v. Europe

• Serfdom lasted longer in Russia than western
  Europe
• Russia looks to Constantinople not Rome,
  Geography isolates Russia
• Religious differences

7
Peter the Great

• Romanovs restore order
• One of Russias greatest reformers
• Increased czars power
• Believed Russia needed a warm water port to
  compete
• Grand Embassy visit to w. Europe in 1698
• Goal was to learn about customs and industrial
  techniques

8
Peter

• Goal to compete military and commercially
• Westernization use western Europe as a model for
  change
• Increased powers to force change
• Church under state control
• Abolished patriarch
• Set up Holy Synod to run church under his control

9
Peter

• Reduced power of landowners
• Hired European officers to improve army
• Soldiering became a lifetime job
• Taxes to pay for army

10
Westernizing Russia

• Potatoes becomes staple crop
• Started newspaper
• Raised womens status with social gatherings
• Nobles wear Western fashions
• Education was key

11
New Capital

• Wanted a seaport for easier travel to the West
  (will help education and growth)
• Fought Sweden for piece of Baltic coast
• 21 year war
• Sailed down Neva River into Baltic sea and to w.
  Europe
• St. Petersburg
• Russia becomes a power