1. ““Mother Russia”Mother Russia”
1450 – 17501450 – 1750
BartockBartock
Another Gunpowder Empire:
An Appealing and Appropriately Brief Power Point for AP World History by
Janet Pareja, Signature School, Evansville, IN
Introduction- View “Millenium: Russia in the 16th
Century”

2. ISOLATIONISOLATION 
Strong Sense of Russian IdentityStrong Sense of Russian Identity
►250 Years of Mongol250 Years of Mongol
Influence:Influence: 1240 -1240 - 14801480

3. ISOLATIONISOLATION 
Strong Sense of Russian IdentityStrong Sense of Russian Identity
► LocationLocation
 No natural bordersNo natural borders
 Far from otherFar from other
civilizationscivilizations
 Iced in most of theIced in most of the
yearyear
 No ocean coastlineNo ocean coastline
 Far from Silk RoadFar from Silk Road
transittransit
UralsUrals

4. Russian Orthodox ChristianityRussian Orthodox Christianity
Moscow as Third RomeMoscow as Third Rome

5. RUSSIARUSSIA WAS NEVERWAS NEVER
EUROPE!EUROPE!
► Distant from other countriesDistant from other countries
► Mongol rule for 250 yearsMongol rule for 250 years
► Orthodox ChristianityOrthodox Christianity
► Not in CrusadesNot in Crusades
► Not trading with ChinaNot trading with China
► No RenaissanceNo Renaissance
► No ReformationNo Reformation
► No Colonies in New WorldNo Colonies in New World
► No Scientific RevolutionNo Scientific Revolution
► No EnlightenmentNo Enlightenment
► No Commercial RevolutionNo Commercial Revolution
► No Parliamentary MonarchyNo Parliamentary Monarchy

6. 1450: Russia1450: Russia BURSTBURST onto Worldonto World
SceneScene
► Rapid ExpansionRapid Expansion
► Rapid Social ChangeRapid Social Change
► Became player in EuropeanBecame player in European
power politicspower politics
AllAll withoutwithout becoming abecoming a
strongstrong commercialcommercial trading power!!trading power!!

7. 1.1. Ivan “the Great”Ivan “the Great”
1462 - 15051462 - 1505
► Defeated MongolsDefeated Mongols
►Centralized RuleCentralized Rule
►CaesaropapismCaesaropapism
 Moscow = 3Moscow = 3rdrd
RomeRome
 Caesar…Kaiser…CZAR!Caesar…Kaiser…CZAR!
►EXPANSION: 3XEXPANSION: 3X
Czar of Muscovy, Ivan III

8. COSSACKS!!COSSACKS!!
►Push Mongols back!!Push Mongols back!!
►Free from SerfdomFree from Serfdom
beyond Uralsbeyond Urals
 Pioneers / AdventurersPioneers / Adventurers
 Peasants escaping serfdomPeasants escaping serfdom
 Mixed ethnicities, oftenMixed ethnicities, often
 Migrate to newly seized landsMigrate to newly seized lands
► Opened Land for Agriculture:Opened Land for Agriculture:
► Military / Macho / HorsebackMilitary / Macho / Horseback
 Kept moving farther as “civilization” &Kept moving farther as “civilization” &
“government” moved in behind them…“government” moved in behind them…
Gathering of the Russian Lands

9. Cossacks!Cossacks!

10. Gathering of the Russian LandsGathering of the Russian Lands
►BoyarsBoyars
 Noble, military, elite…Noble, military, elite…
aristocracyaristocracy
 FEUDALISM!!!FEUDALISM!!!
►ConquestConquest 
 AgriculturalAgricultural
landslands
 SlavesSlaves
 Some tradeSome trade
- ie: Furs, food- ie: Furs, food

11. 2.2. Ivan IV – “The Terrible”Ivan IV – “The Terrible”
1633 - 16841633 - 1684
► Grandson of Ivan IIIGrandson of Ivan III
 Abused as childAbused as child
 Deceived as adultDeceived as adult
► EXPANSION, EXPANSION,EXPANSION, EXPANSION,
EXPANSION:EXPANSION: CossacksCossacks
► Further centralizationFurther centralization  ConflictConflict
with Boyars:with Boyars:
““Reign of Terror”Reign of Terror”
► Killed many Boyars suspected ofKilled many Boyars suspected of
conspiracyconspiracy

12. ““ OprichnikiOprichniki””
►Ivan IV’sIvan IV’s secretsecret
policepolice
► Black clothesBlack clothes w/ emblemw/ emblem
of dog head & broom toof dog head & broom to
sweep treason out ofsweep treason out of
empireempire
► Tool of terror!Tool of terror!

13. 3.3. Looking West for ArtLooking West for Art
► ImportedImported Italian artists &Italian artists &
architectsarchitects – Moscow– Moscow
churches & palaces,churches & palaces,
includingincluding KremlinKremlin
► Modified RenaissanceModified Renaissance
designs for Russiandesigns for Russian
traditions:traditions:
 Ornate Onion DomesOrnate Onion Domes
 Began tradition of lookingBegan tradition of looking
West for artisticWest for artistic
inspirationinspiration
Syncretism
!

14. Onion DomesOnion Domes

15. Time Line of RussianTime Line of Russian
EmpireEmpire
►No Heir…Power Vacuum!No Heir…Power Vacuum!
►FaminesFamines
►Warring BoyarsWarring Boyars
►Sweden & Poland Attacked!Sweden & Poland Attacked!
““Time of Troubles”Time of Troubles”

16. 4.4. Romanov DynastyRomanov Dynasty 1613-19171613-1917
Mikhail RomanovMikhail Romanov chosen Czar
by “Assembly of the Land”
(parliament of Boyars)
►Re-established orderRe-established order
►Drove out invadersDrove out invaders
►MORE Expansion:MORE Expansion:
 Ukraine, including Kiev…
 pushed West to…
Ottoman Empire

17. ContinuedContinued
RussianRussian
EXPANSIONEXPANSION
……

18. ►Chosen by Boyar AssemblyChosen by Boyar Assembly
►Established Order, Repelled InvadersEstablished Order, Repelled Invaders
►CONQUEST: East & WestCONQUEST: East & West
► Centralized / Caesaropapist RuleCentralized / Caesaropapist Rule
1598-
1613
“Time of
Troubles”
1613 1917
3. ROMANOV DYNASTY
MICHAELMICHAEL
ROMANOVROMANOV

19. Long Distance TRADELong Distance TRADE
British Royal MuscovyBritish Royal Muscovy
Company Imported:Company Imported:

Furs!!Furs!! (Soft Gold)(Soft Gold)
 Raw materials:Raw materials:
mineralsminerals
like iron ore.like iron ore.

20. SelectiveSelective
Westernization inWesternization in
RussiaRussia
1690 – 17901690 – 1790
Age of Enlightened DespotsAge of Enlightened Despots

21. Summary of RussianSummary of Russian
Empire:Empire:
Age of Enlightened DespotsAge of Enlightened Despots
►Selective ModernizationSelective Modernization
►More Conquest!More Conquest!
►Power Politics with EuropePower Politics with Europe
►Peasants lost rights vs.Peasants lost rights vs.
Boyers, and became serfs…Boyers, and became serfs…
1613 1917
ROMANOV DYNASTY
MICHAEL
ROMANOV
Peter
the Great
Catherine
the Great
r. 1682-1725 r. 1762-1796
Bolshevik/
Communist
Revolution

22. Peter thePeter the
GreatGreat► Vigorous leaderVigorous leader
► Exceptional intelligenceExceptional intelligence
► Ruthless energyRuthless energy
► Visited Europe incognitoVisited Europe incognito
SELECTIVELYSELECTIVELY
MODERNIZEDMODERNIZED
RUSSIA!RUSSIA!
By mandateBy mandate::
 Government & MilitaryGovernment & Military
 TechnologyTechnology
 EducationEducation
 CultureCulture

23. Peter the Great: Man & LegendPeter the Great: Man & Legend
 TechnologyTechnology
►Esp. navalEsp. naval
 Western know-howWestern know-how
► Brought Western artisans,Brought Western artisans,
teachers, technicians, militaryteachers, technicians, military
advisorsadvisors
► Sought Western allies againstSought Western allies against
TurksTurks
 NOTNOT interested ininterested in
“Representative“Representative
Government”Government”

24. 1.1. Reformed RussianReformed Russian
GovernmentGovernment
►Absolute Monarch/Absolute Monarch/
““AUTOCRACY”AUTOCRACY”
►Mother RussiaMother Russia
Everyone, including the Czar,Everyone, including the Czar,
SERVED THE STATE.SERVED THE STATE.
►Bureaucrats fromBureaucrats from
OUTSIDE Boyar ClassOUTSIDE Boyar Class
Why? Loyalty!Why? Loyalty!

25. 2.2. Expansion!!Expansion!!
► War w. Sweden forWar w. Sweden for *Ice-Free Port**Ice-Free Port*
““Window onWindow on
the Sea”the Sea”
►St. PetersburgSt. Petersburg
► Attacked OttomanAttacked Ottoman
EmpireEmpire
 Religion, LandReligion, Land
 No great victoriesNo great victories
 Empires abuttedEmpires abutted
each other!each other!

26. 3.3. Selective WesternizationSelective Westernization
A.A. Modern STANDINGModern STANDING
ARMYARMY
►GunpowderGunpowder
► European advisorsEuropean advisors
► Aristocratic officers: math &Aristocratic officers: math &
geometrygeometry
Larger than any EuropeanLarger than any European
Army!!Army!!

27. B.B. Bureaucratic ReformsBureaucratic Reforms ……
► Power fromPower from
BoyersBoyers…… given togiven to
trusted bureaucratstrusted bureaucrats
►Tax CutsTax Cuts for Richfor Rich
& Noble!!! BUT…& Noble!!! BUT…
► Tax INCREASESTax INCREASES forfor
peasants.peasants.

28. C.C. SelectiveSelective Economic DevelopmentEconomic Development
COMMANDCOMMAND
ECONOMYECONOMY ––
Benefits theBenefits the STATESTATE
► Metallurgy & mining industriesMetallurgy & mining industries
► Munitions & shipbuildingMunitions & shipbuilding
► Not much urbanizationNot much urbanization
► Not much commercial classNot much commercial class
► Not aNot a commercialcommercial
economy!economy!

29. D. Selective CulturalD. Selective Cultural
WesternizationWesternization
1. Western fads, fashions,1. Western fads, fashions,
distractions:distractions:
 Christmas TreesChristmas Trees
from Germanyfrom Germany
 BalletBallet
fromfrom FranceFrance Barishnikov
Nuryev

30. Selective Westernization – SocietySelective Westernization – Society
2.2. Men (noble)Men (noble)
 ShaveShave beardsbeards
 WesternWestern
clothesclothes
 Noble youth to attendNoble youth to attend
ScientificScientific
Academies &Academies &
Military SchoolsMilitary Schools oror
could not marry!!could not marry!!

31. Selective WesternizationSelective Westernization
3.3. WOMENWOMEN
► AbolishedAbolished taremtarem
►Western style dressWestern style dress
 Including underwear & shoes! NoIncluding underwear & shoes! No
boots…boots…
► RequiredRequired toto attend publicattend public
eventsevents
► Wedding CeremonyWedding Ceremony
 Bride’s father not to hand groom aBride’s father not to hand groom a
whip as symbol of his powerwhip as symbol of his power

32. St. PeterSburgSt. PeterSburg
Classical & Baroque StylesClassical & Baroque Styles

33. Summary of SELECTIVESummary of SELECTIVE
ReformsReforms
► Not forNot for or aboutor about CommonCommon
people!!! For Empire andpeople!!! For Empire and
Absolute Ruler.Absolute Ruler.
► Serf LaborersSerf Laborers
► NOT a Commercial EconomyNOT a Commercial Economy
 AgricultureAgriculture
 Small manufacturing, fur, mineralSmall manufacturing, fur, mineral
tradetrade
► No Enlightenment IdeasNo Enlightenment Ideas::
Autocratic ruleAutocratic rule

34. Peter’s Struggle: WesternPeter’s Struggle: Western
Modernity vs. TraditionModernity vs. Tradition
……And Absolute RuleAnd Absolute Rule

35. Catherine the GreatCatherine the Great
ConsolidationConsolidation
& Limits to& Limits to
ChangeChange
r. 1762 - 1795r. 1762 - 1795
(One generation ruled between her and Peter)

36. Married Peter IIIMarried Peter III
► German-bornGerman-born
Prussian PrincessPrussian Princess
 Changed nameChanged name
 Changed religionChanged religion
 Learned RussianLearned Russian

37. CoupCoup
d’etatd’etat
► 1762 - Officers of the palace1762 - Officers of the palace
guardguard “installed”“installed” her in hisher in his
place…place…
Czar was imprisoned, and laterCzar was imprisoned, and later
accidentally… murdered.accidentally… murdered.

38. Catherine’s ReignCatherine’s Reign
►GenuineGenuine
EnlightenmentEnlightenment
interestsinterests
VS.VS.
►Need to consolidateNeed to consolidate
Absolute Power as aAbsolute Power as a
truly Russian rulertruly Russian ruler

39. Favored Western StyleFavored Western Style
► Arts, Architecture,Arts, Architecture,
LiteratureLiterature

40. Shared Peter’s Interest in the WestShared Peter’s Interest in the West
““Flirted with Enlightenment”Flirted with Enlightenment”
 FrenchFrench philosophesphilosophes visitedvisited
 Corresponded with DiderotCorresponded with Diderot
 IntelligenciaIntelligencia
Russian Intellectual ClassRussian Intellectual Class
►THICK JournalsTHICK Journals

41. FrenchFrench RevolutionRevolution 
Repression ofRepression of EnlightenmentEnlightenment ViewsViews
► CensoredCensored
““seditious writing”seditious writing”
► SilencedSilenced RussianRussian
intellectuals who wantedintellectuals who wanted
French-style reformsFrench-style reforms
► Stopped supportingStopped supporting
Russian MerchantsRussian Merchants in longin long
distance trade.distance trade.

42. Abandoned Westernization!!Abandoned Westernization!!
►Strictly limitedStrictly limited
foreign influence,foreign influence,
trade, travel,trade, travel,
ideas…ideas…
► Russia closed itselfRussia closed itself
off like China,off like China,
Japan… IslamicJapan… Islamic
Empires…Empires…

43. ““The Great Trade OffThe Great Trade Off ””
“Let’s Make a Deal”“Let’s Make a Deal”
►““ServiceService
Aristocracy”Aristocracy”
 Nobles/boyarsNobles/boyars vowed to “serve”vowed to “serve”
a strong central government -a strong central government -
staffed with bureaucrats & officers;staffed with bureaucrats & officers;
theythey did not serve the monarch.did not serve the monarch.
► In return, power overIn return, power over
peasants went to noblepeasants went to noble
“landlords”“landlords” (Boyars)(Boyars)

44. Gave Landlords MoreGave Landlords More
Power over PeasantsPower over Peasants
► Higher taxesHigher taxes
 Money, goods, serviceMoney, goods, service
► Landlord-dominated CourtsLandlord-dominated Courts
decided Penaltiesdecided Penalties
► Increased severity ofIncreased severity of
punishmentspunishments

45. Forced Labor, RussianForced Labor, Russian
Style:Style:
 Rural & Agricultural CountryRural & Agricultural Country
 Peasants became tied to landPeasants became tied to land
 Conditions WORSENED 1450-1750Conditions WORSENED 1450-1750

46. Expansion!Expansion!
►West:West:
 AnnexedAnnexed Balkans,Balkans,
Crimea,Crimea, …headed…headed
toward Istanbul!!!toward Istanbul!!!
 Europeans worried!Europeans worried! 
diplomacy to stopdiplomacy to stop
Russian advance.Russian advance.
And then she turned her attention to….

47. European Power PoliticsEuropean Power Politics
Partition of PolandPartition of Poland
►AustAustriaria && PruPrussiassia agreed toagreed to
eliminate Poland as independent stateeliminate Poland as independent state
►RuRussssiaia got most of it!got most of it!
 Including large populationIncluding large population
of Jewish peopleof Jewish people

48. ““The Pale of SettlementThe Pale of Settlement ””
► JewsJews not allowed to emigratenot allowed to emigrate
 area became focus ofarea became focus of
anti-semitismanti-semitism
► Jews whoJews who couldcould leave movedleave moved
to the USA – 1800’sto the USA – 1800’s
►POGROMSPOGROMS -- riots directed against ariots directed against a
particular group, whether ethnic, religious,particular group, whether ethnic, religious,
or other, and characterized by killings andor other, and characterized by killings and
destruction of their homes, businesses,destruction of their homes, businesses,
and religious centers. and religious centers.

49. 2. Expansion:2. Expansion:
EASTEAST
►Vitus BeringVitus Bering
 Danish navigatorDanish navigator
commissioned to find acommissioned to find a
northeast passage to Asiannortheast passage to Asian
ports on the Pacificports on the Pacific
► Claimed AlaskaClaimed Alaska – later– later
sold to USAsold to USA
► Explorers moved downExplorers moved down
Pacific Coast toPacific Coast to
N. CaliforniaN. California
► Built trading post inBuilt trading post in HawaiiHawaii

50. Russian GeographyRussian Geography
► Capital:Capital: MoscowMoscow
► VolgogradVolgograd  StalingradStalingrad (1925-1961)(1925-1961)
► St. PetersburgSt. Petersburg  LeningradLeningrad (1924-1991)(1924-1991)
► VladivostokVladivostok
► KievKiev
► Bering SeaBering Sea
► Volga RiverVolga River
► Ural Mts.Ural Mts.
► Siberian PlainSiberian Plain

51. Catherine’s Legacy: ByCatherine’s Legacy: By
17961796
► Russia was aRussia was a strong centralizedstrong centralized
statestate (though still had problems with nobility)(though still had problems with nobility)
► BorrowedBorrowed technology from Westtechnology from West ::
 More agriculture, manufacturing, miningMore agriculture, manufacturing, mining
► BorrowedBorrowed culture from Westculture from West ::
 Dress, art, ballet, science, military tech…Dress, art, ballet, science, military tech…
► Largest land empire in the worldLargest land empire in the world
at the timeat the time
► Much of the population wasMuch of the population was not freenot free toto
migrate, choose their own work, or tomigrate, choose their own work, or to
have any control of the country.have any control of the country.

52. FINFIN

53. Review of Russia, 1450-1750:Review of Russia, 1450-1750:
► IsolationIsolation  Centralized Rule + SelectiveCentralized Rule + Selective
WesternizationWesternization
► P: Absolute Monarchy, Czar-Boyer Tug of War, Oprichniki,P: Absolute Monarchy, Czar-Boyer Tug of War, Oprichniki,
CaesaropapismCaesaropapism
► E: Trade w/ England – furs, minerals; Command EconomyE: Trade w/ England – furs, minerals; Command Economy
–– metals & artillerymetals & artillery
► R: Orthodoxy, Third Rome, Old Believers, SchismR: Orthodoxy, Third Rome, Old Believers, Schism
► S: Boyers, Feudalism, PeasantsS: Boyers, Feudalism, Peasants  SerfsSerfs
► I: BehindI: Behind  Flirt w/ Western IdeasFlirt w/ Western Ideas  SeclusionSeclusion
► A: Art & Architecture from WestA: Art & Architecture from West
► R: IsolationR: Isolation  Conquest & Expansion, Gunpowder,Conquest & Expansion, Gunpowder,
Ottomans & Europe, Pale of the SettlementOttomans & Europe, Pale of the Settlement
► T: Gunpowder Weapons, Naval ,T: Gunpowder Weapons, Naval , Nothing invented byNothing invented by
RussiansRussians