The Development of RussiaAP European History

Ms. Tully

The Mongol Yoke and the Rise of Moscow

Mongols – nomadic tribe from present day Mongolia Used terror to reduce conquered peoples into

submission Ruled eastern Slavs (Russians) for 200 years –

Mongol Yoke The princes of Moscow served the Mongol invaders

as officials Ivan III (r. 1462-1505) declared independence from

Mongols in 1480

Moscow Princes = Autocrats – sole source of power (like khans)

Claimed political and religious inheritance of Byzantine Empire Tsar contraction of Caesar Orthodox Christianity Religion source of nationalism and loyalty to the

crown Tsar’s ruled through collaboration with nobility

(boyars) Also created new nobility personally loyal to tsar –

service nobility

Tsar and People to 1689

Ivan IV “the Terrible” (r. 1533-1584)

Fought wars against Mongols in east and Poland-Lithuanian in west

Launched a reign of terror against boyar nobility

Increased pressure on the peasants to pay for his wars led to a breakdown of the Muscovite state after his death – Time of Troubles (1598-1613)

1613 – Nobles elected Michael Romanov (grandnephew of Ivan the T) Represented restoration of tsarist autocracy

Success of Romanovs in 17th century Added Ukraine & Siberia to Russian territory Growth of bureaucracy and army Lots of natural resources from Siberia

The Reforms of Peter the Great (r. 1682-1725)

Sought to reform Russia to increase its military strength Of 36 year reign, only

one year was peaceful

Toured Western Europe Impressed with Dutch

and English How could Russia

profit from their example?

Engaged Russia in the Great Northern War (1700-1721) with Sweden

Military reforms Required nobles to serve in army or civil admin for

life Created Western-style schools to train technicians

for army Borrowed Western technology and hired Western

advisers Created permanent standing army Increased taxes on peasantry threefold

Promoted Western culture in Russia

The Growth of St. Petersburg

Greatest of Peter’s reforms – creation of St. Petersburg

Strategic military location near Baltic Sea

Ordered Russians to build a Western and modern city Broad, straight, stone-paved avenues Conformity of architecture Social groups sectioned off into different areas Example of careful urban planning

Drafted thousands of peasants to build city Desertion, death

St. Petersburg proclaimed power of Russia’s rulers and the creative potential of absolutist state