Transcript The Rise of Russia Chapter 18

The Rise of Russia
CENTRAL
EUROPE
• The middle of the continent
was defined by the HRE
• Politically, central Europe
was comprised of numerous
principalities, Church lands,
and free towns
• By the end of the 15th
century, the HRE was an
empire in name only
• Central Europe was rich in
minerals and timber
THE FORMATION OF
STATES
Caution! Europe under
construction!
• Factors involved in the
formation of states in
Europe in the late 15th and
early 16th century included
geography, population,
natural resources, social
characteristics, language,
and religion
• Furthermore, advances in
warfare made consolidation
easier -- what could not be
inherited or married could
be conquered
• In combination these factors
slowly moved Europe
toward formation of states
• 1. How have
geography, climate
& distance directed
and limited
Russian
expansion?
• 2. How might
geography, climate
& distance affect
the governance of
Russia?
• 3. What states
probably opposed
Russian
expansion?
EASTERN
CONFIGURATION
• At the beginning of the 16th
century, the principality of
Muscovy was the largest political
unit in Europe
• Under Ivan III, “the Great” (14621505), Muscovy expanded greatly
largely due to deterioration of the
Mongol Empire
• Ivan III extended the privileges of
the nobility and organized a
military class
Ivan III
Russia’s greatest historian, Sergei
Platonov wrote:
“The Grand Duke Ivan, endowed with
quick wit and a will of iron completed the
unification of the Russian lands under
Moscow’s hand… “
Expansionism under the Tsars
Ivan lll (the Great) from Moscow – liberate from Mongols
- used nationalism & Orthodox loyalties
- by 1480, large, independent state
Mongol Legacy
- reduced culture & economy
- left local administration alone
literacy declines
economy agricultural
Russia is 3rd Rome
Ivan restores centralized rule
- supervises church
Ivan lV (the Terrible)
- kills nobility (boyars) on charge of conspiracy
The Cossacks Expand Across Siberia: Late 1500s to
mid 1600s
Impact of shift
• Russians sent Cossacks to hold the newly
acquired land
– Cossacks were peasants who migrated to
these new areas
• Trade from China was refocused through
Russia
The Monarchy of Ivan IV
•
In the 1500s Russia far behind western Europe in technical
advancement and centralized government
• Russia run by church officials and boyars, or landowners
• Had conservative viewpoints
Rule Without Limits
Reforms of Ivan IV
• 1546, young prince claimed title of
czar, put Russia on different course
• Title was version of Latin word
caesar, or emperor
• New czar, Ivan, intended to rule
without limits on power
• His own madness created chaos
• During early years, Ivan IV made
many reforms—created general
council that included merchants,
lower-level nobles
• Promoted military officers on merit;
drew up legal code
• Expanded Russia’s borders, trade
As a result of such achievements, the years from 1547 to 1563 are known
as Ivan’s “good period.”
Ivan the Terrible
• During 1560s, Ivan changed
• Strict policies, violent actions sealed reputation as Ivan the Terrible
• Suspicious of closest advisors; sent them away, killed supporters
• Was convinced wife was murdered, people conspiring against him
Private Police Force
• Created private police force to investigate, punish opposition
• Men dressed in black, rode black horses
• Controlled almost half of Russia’s territory in Ivan’s name
• Brutally punished anyone who spoke out against czar’s policies
Last Years of Ivan
Descent into Mental Illness
• 1565, harshness continued;
seized land from 12,000 boyars
• Ordered killing of thousands of
people in Novgorod; suspected
they wanted to separate from
Russia
• 1581, killed his own son, next in
line to be czar
• Descent into mental illness
seemed complete
Time of Troubles
• Death of Ivan’s son may have
been accident, but left Russia
without heir to throne
• Uncertainty about succession,
economic problems, foreign
invasions made chaotic period
known as Time of Troubles
• 1613, Michael, relative of Ivan’s
first wife, crowned czar; first of
Romanov dynasty
• Dynasty lasted until 1917
Autocrats
• Michael was the first Romanov
• He was able to establish some stability but
did not re-establish the autocracy of the
emperor or czar
• He expands into the Ukraine and re-united
Kiev with the rest of Russia
• He waged a successful war against Poland
While others were reforming…
• Alexis was able to re-establish the power
of the czar by outlawing assemblies of the
boyars
• He also re-organized the Orthodox Church
• Those who would not reform were called
the Old believers and many were exiled to
Siberia for their conservative views
Serfs
before Mongols – peasants relatively free
1500s – encouraged serfdom to control large peasant population
1649 – serfdom hereditary
other laws tie serfs to land, give landlords more authority
bought, sold, punished
Trade & Economics
95% population rural
few artisans (most manufacturing rural based)
most trade handled by Westerners
- few merchants
Peter’s reforms increase trade
- yet nobility prevent a strong commercial class
ag & manufacturing methods remain traditional
strengths
– revenue good enough for expanding empire
commerce with Central Asia
What was the nature of Russian
serfdom?
• power of nobility increases 1600 – 1700s
• gives government a way to satisfy nobility & regulate
peasants when govt. didn’t have the means to rule
peasants directly
• had been basically free farmers before Mongols
• serfs tied to land, hereditary status, born to it
• close to slavery, serfs could be bought & sold, punished,
essentially enslave their own people
• whole villages could be sold as manufacturing labor
• did use village governments to regulate lives, rely on
community ties
• illiterate & poor
• paid high taxes, owed labor to landlords or government
(obrok)
• economic & legal situation of the peasantry deteriorated
What is the basis for the culture of
the Russian masses?
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Orthodox Christianity
village life
serfdom
agriculture
taxes
1450-1750
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Russia has contact with the West
Only a few big cities; 95% rural
No strong merchant or commercial class
Long-lasting multinational empire