BUILDING A RUSSIAN EMPIRE: 1450-1750
A REVIEW OF POST-CLASSICAL RUSSIA:
 Rus established
o social structure formed




o Examples?

[1200s-1400s]
o impacts on Russia?
BEGINNING OF EARLY MODERN ERA:

= new political focus of Russia
o
grow in power
o challenge
 ex. Prince
, “The Great”
 pushed Mongols back by
 took title of “
”
TRENDS OF THE 15th-18th CENTURIES:
 growing power of the czars from Moscow
o ex. Ivan IV, “
” [r.1533-1584]
o Moscow = “
”

struggled w/czars for control
o boyars controlled
o czars  brutal to boyars
 example?
 growth in
 continuous Russian expansion 
o What motivated Russia’s expansion?
o Who settled these new areas?
THE ROMANOV FAMILY:
 Ivan IV died without an heir  “
”
 boyars chose new czar
o Czar
[r.1613-1645]
 Impacts?
o successors increased power over boyars & serfs
 ex.
o Romanovs ruled as absolute monarchs until
CZAR PETER THE GREAT [r.1682-1725]
 continued trend of czars increasing their power

 became the most autocratic of Europe’s absolute monarchs
 During his reign he…
 brought boyars under czar’s control
o nobles as
o set standardized
o compulsory education

o forced to adopt
 built up Russian military
o re-organized army in western style w/quality leaders
o
o
o
 extended serfdom
o
o boyars’ powers over serfs grew
o produce
for export [where to?]
 began a new economic focus
o
o serfs =
o goal =
RUSSIAN EXPANSION UNDER PETER THE GREAT
 need for
[why?]
o failed war vs.
over
Black Sea
o successful war vs.
 Russia gained access to
 new capital built =


CZARINA CATHERINE THE GREAT [r.1762-1796]

o welcomed
 did not apply their ideas
o
 rewarded boyars for loyal service to central government
o
 further territorial expansion
o
o successful wars vs. Ottomans

o
Uprising Occurred:


*What enabled these autocratic rulers to make these sweeping reforms?
*What features of Russian civilization were not altered by these periods of
westernization?