Transcript Chapter 18

Chapter 18
The Rise of Russia
Introduction
• A general theme in the story of the development
of Russia as a world power is the way in which
they were often one step behind everyone else
– As western Europe experiences rebirth, Russia was
still isolated by Mongol rule
– For Russia to emerge as a new power, had to gain
freedom from Mongols
– Combination of duties as tax collectors and reliance
on blending nationalism and religion allowed Russia to
gain greater autonomy and ultimately freedom
Russia’s Expansionist Politics Under the Tsars
The Need for Revival
• Once freed from Mongol rule, Russia faced the
following challenges
– Low levels of literacy, trade, manufacturing
– Purely agricultural economy, dominated by peasants
• Ivan III (the Great) met the challenge
– Focus on more centralized rule
• Trend continued by Ivan IV (Terrible); eliminated nobles
suspected of conspiracy
– View of Russia as a third Rome (Byzantine Empire?)
Russia’s Expansionist Politics Under the Tsars
Patterns of Expansion
• Territorial expansion focused on central Asia
– Time to get rid of those Mongols
– Reliance on peasants , used Cossacks to seize new
land
• Not dissimilar to pioneer spirit of 19th century America
– Provided a way to reward loyal nobles…familiar?
• Not dependent on expansion for social control or economic
advance
• Benefitted from increased trade connections
– Contributed to addition of many new cultures
• Including large Muslim minority
Russia’s Expansionist Politics Under the Tsars
Western Contact and Romanov Policy
• Tsars understood that Mongol rule
detrimentally affected Russian culture and the
economy
– Ivan III made diplomatic contact with the West
– Ivan IV encouraged trading contacts
– Western Europe viewed as a cultural and
economic model
• Artists and architects were imported, melding
Renaissance styles with Russian traditions
Russia’s Expansionist Politics Under the Tsars
• Ivan IV died without an heirThe Time of Troubles
– Increased claims to power by boyars
– 1613, assembly of boyars choose and established the
Romanov Dynasty which lasted for nearly 300 years
– Did not produce lasting constraints on tsarist power
• Initial Romanov rulers work to reestablish order
– Michael drove out foreign invaders , resumed expansion
– Alexis abolished assemblies of nobles, more power over
Russian church
– Dissent earned you a one-way ticket to Siberia
Russia’s First Westernization, 1690-1790
Tsarist Autocracy of Peter the Great
• Had no interest in parliamentary government,
utilized absolutist model
• Managed nobility by “promoting” bureaucrats
• Imitated Western military organization
– Created loyal military to suppress local militias
– Established a secret police to prevent dissent
– Moved capital from Russia to new city, St. Petersburg
• Searching for warm water access
– Defeated Sweden to gain access to ice-free port
Russia’s First Westernization, 1690-1790
What Westernization Meant
• Political
– More well-defined military hierarchy
– Extensive bureaucracy
– Eliminating noble councils in favor of tsar-controlled advisors
• Economic
– Build up of metallurgical and mining industry
– State-run munitions and shipbuilding
– Using serf labor for manufacturing
• Social
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New dress code
Western style institutes and academies of learning
Upper class women could attend public events
Changes were focused on the upper classes, technology and intellectual
advances not involved
– Peasants resented transformation of landlords, some elites opposed change
too
Russia’s First Westernization, 16901790
Consolidation Under Catherine the Great
• German-born princess, arranged marriage to distant
heir of Peter the Great
– Miserable marriage
– Installed as empress following murder of husband
• Resumed Peter the Great’s policies
– Defended powers of centralized church, put down peasant
uprisings
– Pugachev Rebellion, opportunity to demonstrate authority
– Continues selective Westernization
• Genuine interest in Enlightenment, “Instruction of 1767”
Russia’s First Westernization, 16901790
• Image not always consistent with policies
– Advocated centeralized, strong tsar gov’t
– Gave new powers to nobility over serfs
• Increased harshness of punishment nobles could
decree for serfs
– Created a service based aristocracy
– Patronized Western-style art, architecture
• Tried to avoid cultural influence from West
Russia’s First Westernization, 16901790
• Continued tradition of expansion
– Campaigns against Ottoman Empire, new territories in
central Asia, claimed territory of Alaska
• Played politics with Europe
– Increased Russian involvement in Polish affairs
– Lead to the elimination of independent state of
Poland
• Legacy
– By 1800, French observer Alexis de Tocqueville likens
increasingly important Russia to the emerging country
in the Western Hemisphere
Themes in Early Modern Russian
History
Serfdom: The Life of East Europe’s Masses
• During 17th and 18th c. power of nobility over
serfs increases steadily
– following expulsion of Tatars, Russian peasants fell
into debt had to accept servile status
– Retained access to land, but not ownership
– Government encouraged this process as a way to
satisfy nobility
– As territory expands so does system of serfdom
• By 1800, half of peasantry was placed into servitude, the
other half owed obligations to the state
Themes in Early Modern Russian
History
– Russian-style serfdom very close to slavery
• Could be bought , sold, gambled away, punished by masters
• Russians enslaved their own instead of “outsiders”
– Intensification of serf labor reflects eastern Europe’s
subordination to the West (i.e. like Latin America)
– Whole villages were sold as labor for manufacturing
sector
• Peasants forced to provide labor obligation, obrok, to
landlords
– Economic and legal position of peasantry continued to
disintegrate
Themes in Early Modern Russian
History
Trade and Economic Dependence
• Social and economic system worked well
– Produced enough revenue to fuel expansion
– Supported by significant population growth
– Limited by traditional technology with little
motivation to improve
– Despite extensive gains started by Peter the Great,
still lagged behind the West
Themes in Early Modern Russian
History
Social Unrest
– Russia’s economic and social system led to protest
• By the end of the 18th c. Western-oriented aristocrats
criticized backwardness of regime
– Seek to abolish serfdom
• Peasants were politically loyal to tsar
– Resented landlords, were the focus of rebellion
– Pugachev relied on peasants to support his rebellion