Czars of Russia WHAP/Napp

Czars of Russia WHAP/Napp Do Now: “At the end of the seventeenth century Russia had little direct contact with the market economies of northwestern Europe. The country was geographically remote by land, and by sea its principal ocean port was Archangel at the extreme north, on the White Sea, ice- bound for most of the year. Russia also belonged to the Greek Orthodox branch of Christianity, so communication with the Church of Rome and its western European networks was also limited. Mongol rule had further isolated Russia culturally from Western Europe, tying it more closely to Central Asia.

Russia began to take its modern form only after Ivan III (r. 1462-1505) overthrew Mongol domination in 1480. Muscovy, the territory around Moscow, became the core of an expanding independent state. Russia expanded southeastward, defeating the khanate of Astrakhan in 1556 and capturing the Volga River basin south to the Caspian Sea with its access to the silk trade of Persia. It also expanded eastward all the way to the Pacific (1649), capturing Siberia and its rich population of fur-bearing animals.

Because of its isolation and foreign rule, Russia had only a tiny urban trading class and very few big city markets. As late as 1811, only 4 percent of its population was urban. The overwhelming majority of its people lived in serfdom, which bound people not directly to specific owners, but to specific land and its landlords, with little possibility for economic, social, or geographic mobility. After 1675 landlords gained the right to sell serfs off the land, even to urban owners.

When Peter I, the Great (r. 1682-96 as co-emperor with his half-brother; 1696-1725 as sole emperor), became sole emperor, he saw Sweden as his principal external enemy. Sweden already held Finland and the entire eastern shore of the Baltic, bottling up Russia without any Baltic port. Worse, in a crushing blow, 8000 Swedish troops defeated 40,000 Russians at the Battle of Narva in 1700. Humiliated, Peter set out to construct in Russia a powerful state based on a powerful army and navy. In 1697, traveling under an assumed name in order to evade royal protocol, Peter had embarked on a ‘Grand Embassy of Western Europe,’ especially England and the Netherlands, but also Baltic ports and the Holy Roman Empire. He searched for allies for the wars he expected against the Turks as Russia pushed toward the Black Sea; he gathered information on the economic, cultural, and military-industrial practices of the western European powers; and for several months he even worked as a ship’s carpenter in Amsterdam. Impressed by the strength of the western European countries, Peter invited to Russia military experts from the West to train and lead his troops. He bought western European artillery and copied it. He established naval forces and reorganized the army along Western lines in uniformed regiments, armed with muskets. By 1703-4 Peter had started to build a new capital, an all-weather port and ‘window on the West,’ in St. Petersburg on land that he conquered from Sweden.” ~ The World’s History 1- How did Russia differ from Western Europe? ______2- How did Peter the Great transform Russia? ______I. Russia after the Mongols A. In 1480, Ivan III of Moscow refused to pay tribute to Mongols and declared Russia free of Mongol rule B. He, and later his grandson Ivan IV, established absolute rule in Russia C. Recruited peasants and offered them freedom from their feudal lords if they agreed to settle new lands to the east 1. The catch was peasants had to conquer the land themselves 2. Known as Cossacks, these peasant-soldiers expanded Russian territories in 16th through 18th centuries into Siberia and southward to Caspian Sea II. Ivan the Terrible A. Ivan IV held such absolute power and became known as Ivan the Terrible B. Taking on title of czar (Russian for “Caesar”), he expanded Russia C. By 1560s, he ruled under a reign of terror and even executed his own son in 1580 D. After death of Ivan IV in 1584, Russia’s feudal lords battled over next ruler E. From 1604 to 1613, the Time of Troubles occurred – pretenders fought for throne F. In 1613, Michael Romanov was elected czar by feudal lords III. The Romanov Dynasty A. Ruled until 1917 B. Consolidated power and often ruled ruthlessly C. Peasants, now serfs, were practically slaves D. By 1689, Russian territory spread from the Ukraine to the Pacific Ocean IV. Peter the Great A. Ruled from 1682 through 1725; convinced he needed to westernize Russia B. Built Russia’s first navy and founded St. Petersburg on the Baltic Sea as his new capital: a “window on the west” C. His aim was to overtake developed countries of western Europe quickly D. Broke resistance of boyars, or members of the ancient landed aristocracy E. Established a regular army on completely modern lines for Russia F. Russians were also permitted to go abroad for their education G. Enforced superficial Europeanization too; for example, decreed that beards should be shorn off and Western dress worn H. Personally cut beards of boyars and skirts of their long coats (kaftany) I. Raskolniki (Old Believers) and merchants who kept beards had to pay a special tax, but peasants and Orthodox clergy allowed to remain bearded J. In 1721, in order to subject Orthodox Church of Russia to the state, Peter abolished Patriarchate of Moscow K. The church transformed into a pillar of the absolutist regime IV. Catherine the Great A. Ruled from 1762 until 1796: considered an Enlightened Despot because incorporated some ideas of Enlightenment but kept her absolute power B. But saw very quickly that emancipation of serfs would never be tolerated C. Imposed serfdom on Ukrainians who had until then been free D. At the end of her reign, there was scarcely a free peasant left in Russia E. Continued aggressive westward territorial expansion, gaining ground in Poland and, most significantly, territory on Black Sea V. Serfs were finally emancipated – Alexander II’s Edict of Emancipation of 1861 1- How did Russian independence from Mongol rule occur? ______2- Where did Russian independence from Mongol rule occur? ______3- What did Ivan III and Ivan IV establish in Russia? ______4- Who were the Cossacks? ______5- How did the Cossacks change Russian history? ______6- What does “czar” or “tsar” mean in Russian? ______7- Discuss two significant facts of the reign of Ivan IV (the Terrible). ______8- Why did the “Time of Troubles” begin in Russia? ______9- What was Michael Romanov elected in 1613? ______10- Identify the dates of the Romanov dynasty. ______11- Describe the Romanov dynasty. ______12- Define serf. ______13- Identify the dates of Peter the Great’s reign. ______14- How did Peter the Great change Russia? ______15- Why did Peter the Great change Russia? ______16- What was Peter the Great’s “window on the west”? ______17- Why were warm-water ports important for Russia? ______18- How did Peter the Great modernize and westernize Russia? ______19- Provide an example of superficial westernization under Peter the Great. ______20- Define boyar. ______21- What did Peter the Great do to subject the Orthodox Church of Russia to the state? ______22- Why was Catherine the Great known as an “enlightened despot”? ______23- What did Tsar Alexander II do in 1861? ______1. Which monarchy constructed the 4. Which of the following best largest contiguous land empire in describes the attitude of Peter history, second in size only to the and Catherine the Great toward Mongol Empire? adopting change along Western (A)British lines? (B) Mughal (A)It was a waste of time and an (C)Russian insult to Russian tradition. (D)French (B) Its harmless influence was (E) Qing allowed to spread without interference. 2. In which neighboring region(s) (C)It was a source of new ideas did the Russian Empire gain the and methods to increase the most land during the Romanov power of the ruling family at dynasty? home and abroad. (A)Poland (D)It was a key step on the road (B) Baltic States to Russian democracy. (C)Black Sea region (E) Emulation of Western gender (D)Siberia and Central Asia roles but not economic (E) Scandinavia practices would be pursued.

3. The shift of the Russian imperial 5. Which Russian territorial capital to which city indicated a possession lay farthest from the shift in orientation toward the center of power in St. West under the rule of Peter the Petersburg? Great? (A)Alaska (A)Moscow (B) Finland (B) Kiev (C)Crimea (C)Vladivostok (D)Siberia (D)St. Petersburg (E) Poland (E) Belgrade 6. Which end result of industrial development was most important to Peter the Great? (A)Russian capacity to produce modern weapons (B) Growth of a vibrant merchant class (C)A raised cultural level of the resultant urban masses

Thesis Practice: Continuity and Change over Time Analyze cultural, political, and economic changes in Russia from 900 C.E. to 1800 C.E.

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