Absolute Monarchy in Russia
European Studies – Honors
Pg. 431
Name_________________________________________
I. Peter the Great
A. Journey to the West
In 1697 Peter set out to study western technology. Upon his return home, he embarked on a
policy of westernization. To impose his will, Peter became the most autocratic of Europe’s
absolute monarchs.
B. Autocrat & Reformer
At home Peter wanted to strengthen the military, expand Russian borders, and centralize royal
power. To achieve this he brought the Russian Orthodox Church under his control and forced
the boyars to serve the state in civilian or military jobs.
Under Peter, serfdom spread in Russia. He forced some serfs to become soldiers or labor on
roads, canals, or other government projects. He pushed through social and economic reforms.
Some changes had symbolic meaning, such as having the boyars shave their beards. Peter had
no mercy for anyone that resisted the new order. After elite palace guards revolted, he had
over 1000 of the rebels tortured and executed. As an example of his power, he left their rotting
corpses outside the palace walls for months.
II. Expansion Under Peter
A. Search for a Warm Water Port
Russian seaports in were frozen over in winter. To increase Russia’s ability to trade with the
West, Peter wanted a warm-water port. The nearest warm-water port was along the Black Sea.
Peter would have to push through the Ottoman Empire to gain the port. He was unable to do
so, but a later Russian monarch, Catherine the Great would be able to.
B. War with Sweden
Peter began a long war against the Kingdom of Sweden. After suffering an initial defeat, Peter
won land along the Baltic Sea.
C. Peter’s City
On land won from Sweden, Peter built a new capital city called St. Petersburg. After having serfs
drain the swamps, he invited Italian architects to design great palaces in western style. Just as
Versailles would become a monument to French absolutism, St. Petersburg became the great
symbol of Peter’s desire to forge a modern Russia.
D. Toward the Pacific
Russian traders crossed the plains of Siberia. Under Peter, Russia signed a treaty with China.
Peter hired Danish navigator Vitus Bering to explore what became known as the Bering Strait.
III. Legacy of Peter the Great
A. Peter dies in 1725
During his life he had expanded Russian territory, gained ports on the Baltic Sea, and created a
mighty army. He ended Russia’s long period of isolationism. Some of his reforms died along
with him. Peter had used terror to enforce his absolute power. His policies contributed to the
growth of serfdom, which served only to widen the gap between Russia and the west.
IV. Catherine the Great
Catherine was a German princess by birth. In 1762, her czar husband Peter III was murdered by
a group of Russian army officers. She ascended to the throne herself.
A. An Efficient Ruler
Catherine reorganized the provincial government, codified laws, and began state-sponsored
education for boys and girls. Like Peter, she embraced western ideas. She was a serious
student of French thinkers who led the intellectual movement known as the Enlightenment.
B. A Ruthless Absolute Monarch
Catherine granted a charter to the boyars outlining important rights, such as exemption from
taxes. She allowed them to increase their stranglehold on peasants. Under Catherine even
more peasants were forced into serfdom.
Like Peter, Catherine sought a warm-water port. After fighting a war against the Ottomans, she
gained a port on the Black Sea. She also took steps to seize territory from Poland.
C. Partition of Poland
Poland had once been a powerful European power, but they were unable to stand up to the
growing power of its neighbors Russia, Prussia, and Austria. In the 1770’s, Catherine the Great,
Frederick the Great (Prussia), and Joseph II (Austria) eyed Poland. The three monarchs agreed
to partition Poland. Catherine took eastern Poland where many Russians and Ukrainians lived.
After two more partitioning’s, Poland disappeared from the map.
Absolute Monarchy in Russia
European Studies – Honors
Pg. 431
Name_________________________________________
I. Peter the Great
A. Journey to the West
In 1697 Peter set out to study _____________ technology. Upon his return home, he embarked
on a policy of _____________. To impose his will, Peter became the most _____________ of
Europe’s _____________ _____________.
B. Autocrat & Reformer
At home Peter wanted to strengthen the _____________, expand Russian _____________, and
_____________ royal power. To achieve this he brought the _____________ _____________
under his control and forced the _____________ to serve the state in civilian or military jobs.
Under Peter, _____________ spread in Russia. He forced some serfs to become soldiers or
labor on _____________, _____________, or other _____________ projects. He pushed
through _____________ _____________ reforms.
Some changes had _____________ meaning, such as having the boyars shave their beards.
Peter had no mercy for anyone that resisted the new order. After elite palace guards revolted,
he had over 1000 of the rebels _____________ and _____________. As an example of his
power, he left their rotting corpses outside the palace walls for months.
II. Expansion Under Peter
A. Search for a Warm Water Port
Russian _____________ in were frozen over in winter. To increase Russia’s ability to trade with
the West, Peter wanted _____________ _____________. The nearest warm-water port was
along the ________________________. Peter would have to push through the _____________
_____________ to gain the port. He was unable to do so, but a later Russian monarch,
_____________ _____________ would be able to.
B. War with Sweden
Peter began a long war against the Kingdom of _____________. After suffering an initial defeat,
Peter won land along the __________________________.
C. Peter’s City
On land won from _____________, Peter built a new capital city called
_______________________. After having _____________ drain the swamps, he invited
_____________ architects to design great palaces in _____________ style. Just as
_____________ would become a monument to _____________ absolutism, St. Petersburg
became the great symbol of Peter’s desire to forge a _____________ Russia.
D. Toward the Pacific
Russian traders crossed the plains of _____________. Under Peter, Russia signed a treaty with
_____________. Peter hired Danish navigator _____________ _____________ to explore what
became known as the __________________________.
III. Legacy of Peter the Great
A. Peter dies in _____________
During his life he had expanded Russian _____________, gained ports on the _____________,
and created a mighty _____________. He ended Russia’s long period of _____________. Some
of his reforms died along with him. Peter had used _____________ to enforce his absolute
power. His policies contributed to the growth of _____________, which served only to widen
the gap between Russia and the _____________.
IV. Catherine the Great
Catherine was a _____________ princess by birth. In 1762, her czar husband _____________
was murdered by a group of Russian army officers. She ascended to the throne herself.
A. An Efficient Ruler
Catherine reorganized the _____________ _____________, _____________ laws, and began
state-sponsored _____________ for boys and girls. Like Peter, she embraced _____________
ideas. She was a serious student of French thinkers who led the intellectual movement known
as the _____________.
B. A Ruthless Absolute Monarch
Catherine granted a charter to the _____________ outlining important rights, such as
exemption from _____________. She allowed them to increase their stranglehold on
_____________. Under Catherine even more peasants were forced into _____________.
Like Peter, Catherine sought __________________________. After fighting a war against the
_____________, she gained a port on the _____________. She also took steps to seize territory
from _____________.
C. Partition of Poland
_____________ had once been a powerful European power, but they were unable to stand up
to the growing power of its neighbors _____________, _____________, and _____________. In
the 1770’s, Catherine the Great, _____________ (Prussia), and _____________ (Austria) eyed
Poland. The three monarchs agreed to _____________ Poland. Catherine took eastern Poland
where many Russians and Ukrainians lived. After two more partitioning’s, Poland disappeared
from the map.