What was the Edict of Nantes and who came
up with it? What section tells you what the document is about?
A declaration of religious freedom Henry IV of France
Bell Ringer
Russian Czars become absolute rulers:
- Ivan the Terrible - Peter the Great
Video: Biography of Ivan the Terrible Westernizing Russia Video: St. Petersburg
Agenda/Objectives
Ivan IV – “Ivan the Terrible” Came to power in 1533, he was only 3 years
old. Struggle for power – Boyars fought to control
Ivan. Boyar - landowning noble. Ivan – at 16 seized power and named himself
czar. Which means??? Title meant Caesar.
Russian Czars Increase Power
1547 – 1560: known as Ivan’s good period - gained land - ruled justly
1560: Bad period… Dum dum dum dum! Who died??? Anastasia, his wife
Ivan the Terrible
Accused Boyars of poisoning his wife. Police force = hunt down traitors and kill
them. - dressed in black and rode black horses. Thousands of Boyars died.
Boyar’s land was seized and given to new class of nobles who had to be loyal.
Bad Period
“In front of your army have I marched – and marched
again; and no dishonor have I brought upon you, but only brilliant victories… But to you, O czar, was all this as naught; rather do you show us your intolerable wrath and bitterest hatred, and furthermore, burnings ( a means of torture).
Is he happy or upset? What class do you think Andrew was a part of? Was he loyal to Ivan? What does this say about many of the loyalties of the
Boyar?
Prince Andrew Kurbsky
1581 – Killed his oldest son. Died 3 years later. His second weak son was left to rule.
Ivan made a terrible mistake….
Ivan’s son both physically and mentally weak. Died without an heir. What do you think happens now??? Turmoil = “Times of Trouble” Boyars vs. heirs of czars Heir of czars kept dying “mysteriously”
1613 - Representatives from the major cities chose an heir – Michael Romanov.
Rise of the Romanovs1613- 1917
Still a land of Boyars and serfs. Serfdoms lasted until the mid 1800s. Most Boyars did not know about Western
Europe. - Mongol rule cut them off from the
Renaissance and Age of Explorations. Geographic barriers. Religion: Eastern Orthodox Christians. - Viewed Catholics and protestants as heretics.
Russia’s difference from Europe
1697 – At age 25, Peter embarked on the “Grand
Embassy”. Goal – Wanted to learn about European customs and
industrial techniques. Brought 200 servants and 55 boyars. First to travel to the west and be among the “heretics”. Kept his identity a secret. - Wore plain clothes and labored as a ship’s carpenter
for 4 months. His identity was not well hidden. Travelled to England and Austria before going home.
Peter Visits the West
After trip wanted to compete both
economically and militarily. Westernization: Idea of using Western
Europe as a model for change. Peter saw it as a change to better Russia.
Peter rules absolutely
Peter increased his power to as an absolute ruler. Russian Orthodox church under state control.
- abolished the patriarch or head of church and formed a group called Holy Synod.
Like Ivan IV, Peter lowered power of land owners. Recruited low ranking families and gave them land
based on loyalty. Modernized army: hired European officers.
- His army would reach 200,000.Imposed heavy taxes.
Reforms
Introduced potatoes, became a staple of the
Russian diet. Started Russia’s first newspaper and edited
the first issue himself. Raised women’s status by letting them attend
social gatherings. Ordered nobles to give up their traditional
clothes for Western fashions.
Westernizing Russia
1703: End of a 21 year war with Sweden. Gained land on the Neva river near the Baltic
sea.
Named the new capital St. Petersburg after his patron saint.
Building the capital cost around 100,000 lives. Swampy conditions
A new capital
Died in 1725. By that time he raised the status of Russia
among the European powers. Now a forced to be reckoned with in Europe.
Legacy of Peter
Do you think Ivan the Terrible or Peter the
Great was more of an absolute Monarch? Explain your answer giving specific examples from notes…
Essay/homework