Overview of early Russia

1. Rise of Russia and
Absolute Rule

2. Critical Review Questions
How did the “Tatar Yoke” (period of
Mongol rule over Russia) contribute to
Russia’s lag behind the West?

3. Critical Review Questions
In what ways was Catherine the Great
similar to Peter the Great?

4. Critical Review Questions
Explain the win-win that the
expansion of serfdom provided for the
Russian government.

5. Critical Review Questions
Write 2-3 statements comparing
Russian serfdom, Western European
serfdom, chattel slavery of the
Americas and indentured servitude.

6. Critical Review Questions
Considering the events of the
Pugachev Rebellion, make a couple
observations about Russian society.

7. Critical Review Questions
DBQ prompt: Analyze the attitudes of
the Russian government toward
serfdom.
Tasks from “Decree on Serfs” 1767
1. annotate doc.
2. write POV statement

8. The Mongols in Russia
 The Mongols controlled Kiev Rus for over
2 centuries
 In 1480 Ivan the III or “The Great”
refused to pay a tribute to the Mongols
– Over time joined all Russian states together
under his rule
– Claimed Russia was now the “third Rome”
– “Father of Russian Empire”

9. Ivan the
Great
•Consolidated lands through
war, marriage, and purchase
•Cossacks
Peasant Steppe warriors
recruited to take new
territories in exchange for
freedom from serfdom.
•Became head of the church
as well as head of the
government

10. • Cossacks
– Peasant Steppe warriors
recruited to take new
territories in exchange for
freedom from serfdom.

11. Pre-Mongol Russia

13. The First Czar
 Ivan the Terrible
– In 1533, Ivan the Terrible
becomes king of Russia
– Struggles for power with
boyars—landowning nobles.
– Seizes power and is crowned
czar, meaning “caesar”
 Rule by Terror
– In 1560, Ivan turns against
boyars, kills them, seizes lands

14. Time of Trouble
 Ivan Executed his
oldest son
– Leaves questions
about who will take
the throne
- Rise of the Romanovs
- Ivan’s heir is weak,
leading to period of
turmoil
- In 1613, Michael
Romanov becomes czar
Romanovs rule to 1917.

15. Peter the Great Comes to Power
 The Rise of Peter
– Peter the Great becomes
czar in 1696, begins to
reform Russia
 Russia Contrasts with
Europe
– Cut off geographically
from Europe
– Culturally isolated, little
contact with western
Europe
– Religious differences
widen gap

16. Peter Rules Absolutely
 Peter Visits the West
– In 1697, Peter visits western Europe to learn
European ways
 Peter’s Goal
– Goal of westernization—using western Europe as a
model for change
 Peter’s Reforms
– Brings Orthodox Church under state control
– Reduces power of great landowners
– Modernizes army by having European officers train
soldiers

18. Peter Rules Absolutely (continued)
 Westernizing Russia
– 1st Russian Navy
– Starts Russia’s first newspaper
– Raises women’s status
– Adopts Western fashion
– Advances education

19. Peter Rules Absolutely (continued)
 Establishing St. Petersburg
– Peter wants a seaport that will make travel to
West easier.
– Fights Sweden to win port on Baltic Sea
– In 1703, begins building new capital called St.
Petersburg. (Window on the West)
– By the time of Peter’s death, Russia is force to
be reckoned with in Europe

20. “English Embankment,”
St. Petersburg, Russia

21. Palace Square, St. Petersburg

22. Church of the Savior on Spilt Blood,
St. Petersburg, Russia

23. Serfdom in Russia

24. Russia’s Catherine II “the Great”
1762-1796

25. Russia’s Catherine II “the Great”
1762-1796
•Embraced Enlightenment ideas
•New law code; almost
•Extended control of cent. Gov’t
•Supported Western art & architecture
•Extended power of nobles over serfs
•Added new territories
•In the end: Russia = World’s greatest
land empire