ABSOLUTISM IN RUSSIA

Russia under the Mongols

 In the 13th century much of Europe was conquered by the Mongols from East Asia
 The Mongols dominated Russia for 240 years. They ruled by force but allowed the Russian
princes to remain I power as long as taxes were collected for the Mongol ruler.

 The Mongol rule led to the rise of Moscow as the new center of power in Russia. Kiev lost
importance.
 By the end Mongol Empire around 1480, princes had evolved into czars (tsars) or absolute rulers
of Russia

Ivan III “the Great” (1462-1505)

 Ivan believed that the Mongol’s power had weaked. He stopped paying taxes to them and drove
out the Mongols.
 He earned the title “the Great” by building beautiful churches. He also enclosed Moscow in a
wall that became known as the Kremlin. PICTURE
 Afte the fall of the Byzantine Empire, Ivan saw himself as the defender of the Eastern Orthodox
Church. Ha called himself “czar” which meant “Caesar” in Russian

Ivan IV “the Terrible” (1533-1584)

 Ivan IV became known as the terrible because of the ruthless way in which he treated his
subjects
 New social institutions of his time included:

- Feudalism.
 Before Ivan, boyars (nobles) had control of their own land. He gave land to nobles who helped
him during wars and set up feudal system similar to the one used during Europe’s Middle Ages.

- Seftdom.
 As the nobles becames less free, so did the peasents.
 Traditionally, peasants had been allowed to move freely.
 Under Ivan IV, many tried to run away to escape serving in the army and paying taxes.
 Some settled in the lands of the south and east. They became known as Cossacks.
 To prevent escaped, the czar made the peasants serfs. They were obligated to serve a lord for
life.
 This change in social status was contradictory to most of Europe where serfs had already been
given their freedom.

Peter the Great

 In 1613, the Russians crowned a new czar from the Romanov family. This family or “dynasty”
would rule Russia until 1917.
 The greatest Romanov czar was Peter. He ruled from 1682 to 1725. He successfully pursued two
major policies:
(1) Westernization
(2) Expansionism
 Westernization. As a young man, Peter became fascinated with the culture and technology of
Western Europe.
 He believed that Russia could become a major military power if they westernized (adoption in
western ideas)
 He introduced many reforms
 He reorganized his army according to western models and created a navy.
 He invited western businessmen to Russia to teach Russians modern techniques
 Nobles were required to serve in the military or government.
 Peter also adopted western fashions. Men had to cut their beards and women had to stop
wearing veils.
 Peter also moved the capital of Russia from Moscow to St. Petersburg - a city he built of the
Baltic Sea and he called it a “window on the world”

Expansionism
 In 1682, under Peter, Russia aggressively expanded.
 Russia fought several wars and won land along the Baltic Sea (present-day Estonia and Latvia)

Catherine the Great

 Catherine II who ruled from (1762-1796) continued Russia’s expansion leading to the title “the
Great”
 Her military victories gained Russia the Crimean Peninsula and other land along the Black Sea
including Odessa, a valuable warm water port.
 She also gained part of Poland
 Catherine also continued Peter’s policy of westernization.
 She invited Western European authors, artists, and musicians to move to Russia.
 She considered herself an “enlightened despot”
 Western ideas reached the nobility and middle class but serfs were still treated ruthlessly.
 In 1773, Catherine crushed a revolt by the serfs.