The Rise of Russia

Absolutism in Eastern Europe

Origins• The Russians are a Slavic

people• Russians were converted

by Byzantine missionaries—embraced Orthodox Christianity• Rulers strongly influenced

by Byzantine culture

• Peasants lived according to ancient customs and Orthodox Church

Quotes from Adam Olearius (traveled to Russia in 1634)• “Russian men place great

store by long beards and large stomachs, and those who have them are placed in high regard.”

• “With regard to intelligence, the Russians are indeed distinguished by cleverness and shrewdness….their cleverness and shrewdness are manifested in their commerce.”

• “Their dancing-bear impresarios have comedians with them…”

Development of Muscovy• 1400s—Muscovy (Moscow) took

control of all Russians and drove off Mongols• After fall of Constantinople,

Muscovy claimed leadership of the Orthodox Christian world• Moscow was the “Third Rome”• Rulers of Muscovy/Russia called

themselves tsars (Caesars)• Ivan IV the Terrible tried to

establish his authority over the boyars (nobles) and expand Russia

The Romanov Dynasty• Ivan IV’s dynasty (the Rurikids) lost power after Ivan’s

death• Boyars fought for control• Poles, Swedes, Mongols took advantage to attack

Russian territory• Finally in 1613 Mikhail Romanov established himself as

Tsar • Romanov tsars ruled Russia for next 300 years• Constant expansion• To the West, fought Poles and Swedes• To the East, conquered Siberia

Peter the Great (Background)• Took power in 1689 after a childhood filled with violence between nobles and members of the imperial family• Spent much of his youth away from the court, Russian nobles, and Orthodox Church—hung out with Western European mercenaries• Fascinated by Western technology, science, navigation• Imposing figure—6 feet, 7 inches tall

Peter the Great• Goals:• Create a strong,

centralized monarchy—admirer of Louis XIV• Make Russia a great power

• Russian explorers continued to conquer Siberia

• Wars against Sweden and Ottomans—search for a port

• New capital—St. Petersburg

Why St. Petersburg?

Major Goal—Westernize Russia• Modernize military and

government• Bring European science

and technology to Russia• Cultural changes—forced

Russian nobles to adopt Western customs (no beards!)• A divide grew between

Westernized nobles and traditional peasants

Legacy• Made Russia into a great

power and brought Russia in contact with ideas of Enlightenment• But…

• Used a great deal of violence to achieve it

• Cultural divide between nobles and peasants—would remain until 1917

• With expansion, more and more peasants forced into serfdom

Russia—Western or a Separate Culture?• “It’s an idea about socialization, about creating a

culture, a culture for the Slavic world, for the Russian world”• Igor Kostenok, Education officer for Russian rebels in

Ukraine, explaining need for pro-Russian history books

• “They (the West) won’t leave the Russian bear alone. They will always seek to chain it. And once its chained, they’ll rip out its teeth and claws.”• Vladimir Putin