Homework Bell Ringer What Russian dynasty will be the last dynasty

in Russia – begun by Peter the Great’s father and ended with the execution of Czar Nicholas II during WW1. The mystery remains whether young Anastasia survived to continue the family.

Russian Absolutism

“The Romanov Dynasty”(1613 – 1917)

Reminder? Why was Russia more like Asia than Europe

during the Middle Ages and the early Renaissance?

Mongols (Golden Horde) had cut off Russia

from Europe – connected them to Central Asia

Reminder? What are some of the things that absolute

monarchs do during their reign? Go to war (improve military) Reduce power of the nobles Build architectural works to show their glory Have control over most aspect of people’s lives Control religion

Peter the Great (Peter I)Romanov(1672-1725)

• political struggle when he (age 10) became tzar (sister & brother co-ruled until overthrown or died)

• main goal was to westernize and modernize Russia

• sent hundreds of Russians to European capitals to learn government, arts, and economic strategies.

Imposing figure – tall (6’8”) who physically labored, active navy officer, shipbuilder

First important act of Peter’s reign was a campaign against the Ottoman Turks. He needed western help, so went incognito to Europe’s capital for help. On this “Great Embassy”, he saw and was inspired by:

• Parliament,• Oxford College, • arsenals,• mints,• tower of London,

He was not able to convince European countries to assist him. Peter had to make peace with the Turks.

What does he hope to achieve by attacking the

Ottomans?

Peter then sought access to Baltic Sea and Baltic trade from Sweden so that he could have trade with Europe. Attacked Charles XII of Sweden and defeated him in 1721.

Moved capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg (1703) to have access (warm water ports and window to west) to Baltic Sea.

St. Petersburg

Peter’s Versailles, 100,000s died trying to make a city out of a swamp.

Increased serfdom to achieve this.

This is a coercive labor system that will

last in Russia until their emancipation in

1860s.Feudal System

Many internal reforms including:

• reorganized government – established Senat as highest institution. Encouraged commoners to be part of this. (he will let it meet, but it has no enforceable powers)

•poll tax to establish himself internationally – everything was taxed – coffins, hats, cucumbers, etc.

•boosted national manufacturing and trade

• first Russian regular army and navy

•forced nobles to work for military and civil functions. Forced them to shave beards and be more western.

•confiscated Russian Orthodox money for government use. Prohibited men under 30 from becoming monks.

Practice Regents – Jan 2014What happened in Russia as a result of actions taken by Peter the Great?

(1) Russia was weakened by French invasions.(2) Catholicism was adopted as the state religion.(3) The Duma was reformed and the serfs werefreed.(4) Russia borrowed Western ideas and expanded its territories.

Alexei, son of Peter’s first wife, did not want to be tsar and took little interest in government. After Alexei formally renounced his claim to the throne he was place in prison, tortured on the rack, and executed for treason.

Many who opposed Peter’s will were killed in mass executions.

Peter divorced his first wife who had little understanding of his motives and desires. He remarries a serving girl named Martha – renamed Catherine I. She was often the only one who understood him and who could calm his rages. They had five children, only two girls survived.

What “Terrible” Russian Ruler does this remind you of?

The first living quarters built in the newly founded city of St Petersburg -

• was a wooden house (cabin) - only 60 sq. meters, but made to look like stone (European)

•Tsar Peter lived in this house between 1703 and 1708

Peter the Great wanted a European pleasure park in his new and beloved "paradise" - St Petersburg.

In Peter's new park everything was done according to the latest fashion: all trees and bushes were trimmed in the most elaborate way, all the alleys were decorated with marble statues and fountains.

Very much like …….?

The Baroque Winter Palace was built in 1754-62 for Empress Elisabeth, daughter of Peter the Great. By the time it was completed Elisabeth had already died, and only Catherine the Great and her successors could enjoy their new home.

Nowadays the Winter Palace, together with four more buildings houses the extensive collections of the Hermitage. The Hermitage Museum is the largest art gallery in Russia and is among the largest and most respected art museums in the world.

Catherine the Great(1729 – 1796)

•German princess who learned Russian and converted to Eastern Orthodox from Lutheran.

• Her husband, Peter III, planned to rid himself of Catherine. She with her imperial guards and one of her 21 lovers overthrew Peter in a palace coup. She proceeded to rule for 34 years.

•Earned title “Great” for her aggressive foreign policy – defeated Ottoman Empire on Black Sea for warm-water port. Divided Poland into three parts with Prussia and Austria.

•Supported nobles by giving them a charter of their rights (like Magna Charta) – exempted from taxes and excused them from the service to the state.

•Serfs were not given charter – they rebelled and an even tighter control over them was enforced. Catherine called herself the “first landlord of the realm.”

Age of Enlightenment – showed intellectual accomplishment. Believed that “a wise ruler favors reason over passion to best ensure welfare of subjects and bolster autocratic system of government.” Inspired by writings of Voltaire and Montesquieu.

Practice Regents – Aug 2013

• Supported reforms• Believed in natural rights & religious toleration• Viewed themselves as servants of their state

In the 18th century, European leaders that fitthese characteristics were best known as

(1) theocratic monarchs(2) enlightened despots(3) totalitarian dictators(4) prime ministers