Transcript Russian Absolutism - Lyons-Global

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 coruled 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,
What does he
hope to achieve
by attacking the
Ottomans?
He was not able to convince European countries to
assist him. Peter had to make peace with the
Turks.
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
This is a coercive
labor system that will
last in Russia until
their emancipation in
1860s.
Peter’s Versailles, 100,000s died
trying to make a city out of a Feudal System
swamp.
Increased serfdom to achieve this.
Many internal reforms including:
•poll tax to establish himself internationally – everything
was taxed – coffins, hats, cucumbers, etc.
• 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)
•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
2014
What 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 were
freed.
(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 warmwater 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 fit
these characteristics were best known as
(1) theocratic monarchs
(2) enlightened despots
(3) totalitarian dictators
(4) prime ministers