Russia Brief History of an Empire

1450s to 1700s

CULTURAL & POLITICAL INFLUENCES on RUSSIASlavic, Viking, European and

Central Asian culturesByzantine missionaries brought

Orthodox ChristianityParts of Asian Russia had

converted to Islam

Orthodox Christianity was eventually controlled by the Tsar.

Early Russia & Invasion

Feudal Lords were loosely organized in what was call the Kievan Empire.

Then INVASION by the Mongols and Russia became part of the Mongol Empire from the 1200s to 1400s.

1240-1480 Mongol Rule

After the Mongols withdrew (or were they defeated?), a kingdom centered around Moscow had begun.

Russia 1450 - 1690

The first TSARS (Caesars) expanded power and the growing Russian Empire into Siberia and Central Asia.

Russia 1450 - 1690The first TSARS (or

Czars)Worked to gain power

over the boyars (nobles) and create a strong central government.

Russia 1450 - 1690

Conflicts over the rule of Russia led to series of civil wars and political turmoil and outside invasions.

The RomanovsRomanov Dynasty began in 1613,

when Russian independence was restored (lasting to 1914) after a period of civil wars and outside invasions.

The power of the Tsars increased

Councils of Russian nobles were eliminated

Trained bureaucrats came from “lower classes” in the government and military instead of nobles being officials

Secret police and Tsar’s special forces suppressed rebellion

New Openness to the West1689-1725 Tsar Peter the

GreatForced

WesternizationModernized army,

built a navy, and continued expansion

Instituted an educational system

•Western dress, architecture, styles &•BEARDS!

(But not politics.)

Allowed mobility in government based upon merit

Built St. Petersburg Organized and modernized trade and

commerce.

Russia became one of the great land empires.

“Pioneers” expanded Russian territorial control

Reform, then Repression

1762-1796 Catherine the Great (Tsarina)

Continued expansion and westernization

Was initially open to social reforms . . . “Enlightened Despot”

The French Revolution & rebellion at home caused her to become more oppressive

Russian interaction with . . .Ottoman Empire, Eastern Europe,

and Central Asia Russian war victories led to territorial gains (especially Poland and around the Caspian sea)

China – mutual agreement on boundaries

Russian interaction with . . .

• Western Europe – Westerners carried on much of the trade in Russia, Western styles from architecture to the military were mimicked, but Russia remained politically isolated from Western Europe.

Themes in Early Modern RussiaRussia remained a traditional

agricultural society.Nobles continued to control the

lower classes.– Serfdom was expanded and rural

peasants suffered– Little freedom was offered to the

lower classesSocial unrest and revolt was

common