Russia1450-1750

Russian Orthodox Church splits from Byzantine

1453 Ivan the III

1462

1505

Vasili III

1547Ivan IV

AbdicationTartarsBoyars

Muscovycompany

1551

Married byzantine princess“Third Rome”

1682Peter the GreatTsar of Russia

ReforminfrastructureSt. Petersburg

Sweden Defeatedgains baltic states

Peter I declared emperor of Russia

1721

What made Russia an Empire?an extensive group of states or countries under a single supreme authority,

formerly especially an emperor or empress.

Russia had various states and areas under its control

Livonia, Estonia, Ingra, Poland, Parts of Swedish Empire, Siberia

Significant Figures in Russian Empire

Ivan the Great - Ivan III (“Ivan the Great”) played a critical role in the centralization of the Russian state, after having defeated the Mongol army (Golden Horde) in 1480.

Ivan the Terrible - Named Ivan the Terrible due to his Autocratic nature, A Proclamation would get you Killed. In 1550 Ivan created a new code of laws known as the Sudebnik, decentralized governance of rural regions and established the Zemsky Sobor, which was the first representative body on a large scale in Russian history. In 1565 his reign enters a decline, divided tsardom into a private realm and a public domain resulting in a Massacre. 1570 trade decline, weak aristocracy and military losses resulted in Moscow being sacked hard by Crimean Tatars as they collected a huge booty from central russia.

After an Unstable period, Mikhail Romanov established the Romanov dynasty. Restored regional peace due to the weakening of Sweden and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth when they fought each other. Goes to war with Poland over land after they get annoyed by treaties, wins a bunch of land. Nobility and Political Aristocrats tax the crap out of peasants resulting in Peasant uprisings

Significant Figures in Russian Empire - Continued

Peter the Great: Peter I established a tradition of reform and progress in which all tsars would be judged on their ability to modernize the economy and society as well as their ability to gain influence abroad. The Great Northern War in 1721 resulted in Sweden seceding provinces situated in the Gulf of Finland which allowed Russia to gain access to the Baltic Sea. Under his reign, Russia became an absolutist state molded on the European standards of that time. Indeed, Peter the Great replaced the Boyar Duma (Council of Nobles) with a supreme council of state, called the Governing Senate comprised of Nine members. The Governing Senate oversaw administrative, judicial and financial affairs but its main role was to collect Taxes which tripled under Peter the Great. Established chinese style bureaucracy.

Catherine I: first woman to ascend the throne of Russia, paving the way for a century almost completely dominated by women. Alexander Menshikov actually controlled the Government due to his position on the Governing Senate and friendship with Peter the Great

Peter the Great’s daughter Elizabeth seized the throne in 1741. Her reign was marked by major cultural

and scientific events, foundation of universities and the emergence of scholars. Her administration

restored the Governing Senate’s powers and abolished capital punishment. Not great on Serfs rights

Role of Women

Women in Government- Cathrine I, Elizabeth and then Catherine the Great

Russian family life was entrenched in Patriarchy as marriage was important for families economically and socially. Arranged marriages based on value not love. Some families considered their daughter’s future quality of life and how much work would be required of her. Man’s side of the family made arrangement based on dowry size, bride’s decency, modesty, obedience, capacity to do work and family. Once Married women were property of their husband and his family.

Division of Property was weird: livestock, such as pigs and horses, was owned by the husband. Cows were the property of the husband, but were usually in the wife's possession. Chickens were considered to be the wife's property, while sheep was common property for the family. Wife made Clothes, Husband made shoes, husband still owned the home

Reforms- Peter the Great allowed children to “have a say” in who they married

Role of Religion Russian Orthodox Church -

In 1448 a Russian bishop, was installed by the Council of Russian bishops in Moscow as Head Bishop (Metropolitiain) of Russia without the consent from Constantinople. This unintentionally, signified the beginning of an effectively independent church structure in the Moscow. Subsequently, there developed a theory in Russia at the time that Moscow was the “Third Rome” and successor of Constantinople to be the head of Christianity.

When Ivan the terrible is crowned Tzar it is heavily connect to religion as he designated a "divine" ruler appointed by God. Texts of the Orthodox church are amended to reference Christ has the Heavenly Tzar. His title is passed on from Tzar to Tzar as they used the Church for political purposes Ivan the Terrible solidifies position of the Church with the Council of the Hundred Chapters which unified the rituals and ecclesiastical regulations throughout Russia.

Peter the Great was not religious!! Has low regard for the Church!!! Puts it under strict governmental control!!! Religious leader appointed by Tzar!

Effort exists in modern russian society to make Ivan the Terrible a saint.

Russia’s relationship with the West

Early Tsars (Ivan III and Ivan IV) realized Russia’s economic and cultural stagnation-a result of mongol occupation, and traded with the west.

Western Merchants held trading posts in Moscow and other urban areas,western artists incorporated Italian/French elements into Russian culture, especially Architecture.

Peter the Great sought westernization, a massive movement to incorporate western ideas and technology into russian society. Peter reformed education, military and established a secret police force. He fought Sweden and gained territory. Russia became a major power in Europe.

Catherine the Great continued to support trade with the west and sent Russians to study in western Europe, however, she refused to let western Ideas influence Russian politics by censoring radical thinkers and their writings.

Factors that may have led to later decline

Russia’s power grew during the Early Modern Era (1450CE-1750CE), however, there were several factors that may caused later decline:

1. Serfdom: Aristocrats’ power over the masses increased, serfs disliked westernization and rebelled periodically because their lives didn’t improve.

2. Technology and manufacture: lagged behind the west, agricultural production lacked efficiency and peasants did not wish to improve because their crops were all taken by landlords.

3. Radical thinkers: western-oriented aristocrats that wish to change the backwardness of Russia by abolishing serfdom, the regime was criticized and resented by many.

Sources"A Timeline of Russia." A Timeline of Russia. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2015.

"Russian History: The Rise of a Superpower, Foundation of the Russian Empire." Global Research. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.

Barbara Alpern Engel, "Peasant Morality and Pre-Marital Relations in Late 19th Century Russia", (Oxford University Press), 695–98.

Lindsey Hughes, Russia in the Age of Peter the Great (1998)

"Russians Laud Ivan the Not So Terrible; Loose Coalition Presses Orthodox Church to Canonize the Notorious Czar." - The Washington Post. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2015

"Russia - Peter the Great and the Russian Empire." Russia - Peter the Great and the Russian Empire. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.