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1
Absolute Rulers of Russia
5.4
THE FIRST CZAR Ivan the Terrible 1533 becomes
king of Russia Struggles for power with
boyarslandowning nobles Seizes power and is
crowned czar, meaning caesar

• Good period
• gains land establishes law code

• Bad period
• 1560 turns against boyars, kills them, seizes
  lands
• Kills eldest son and heir causing period of
  turmoil

Rise of the Romanovs 1613 Michael Romanov
becomes czar
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2
Peter the Great Comes to Power
The Rise of Peter 1696 Peter the Great becomes
czar reforms Russia
Russia Contrasts with Europe Land of boyars and
serfs Geographically culturally isolated,
little contact with western Europe Religious
differences widen gapEastern Orthodox

• Peter Visits the West
• 1697 Peter visits western Europe on the Grand
  Embassy
• Goal to learn European ways

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3
Peter Rules Absolutely
Peters Goal westernizationusing western Europe
as model for change
Peters Reforms Brings Orthodox Church under
state control Reduces power of
landowners Modernizes army by having
European officers train soldiers
Continued . . .
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4
Westernizing Russia Introduces
potatoes Starts Russias first
newspaper Raises womens status Adopts
Western fashion Advances education
Establishes St. Petersburg Peter wants a seaport
that will make travel to West easier Fights
Sweden to win port on Baltic Sea 1703 begins
building new capitalSt. Petersburg Building
city takes many years many serfs die in process
When Peter diesRussia is a power to be
reckoned with in Europe
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