Absolute Rulers of Russia Chapter 21 Section 4
Absolute Rulers of Russia Chapter 21, Section 4
Peter the Great Comes to Power n The Rise of Peter – Peter the Great becomes czar in 1696, begins to reform Russia n Russia Contrasts with Europe – Cut off geographically from Europe – Culturally isolated, little contact with western Europe – Religious differences widen gap
Peter Rules Absolutely n Peter Visits the West – In 1697, Peter visits western Europe to learn European ways n Peter’s Goal – Goal of westernization—using western Europe as a model for change n Peter’s Reforms – – – Brings Orthodox Church under state control Reduces power of great landowners Modernizes army by having European officers train soldiers
Peter Rules Absolutely (continued) n Westernizing Russia – Introduces potatoes – Starts Russia’s first newspaper – Raises women’s status – Adopts Western fashion – Advances education
Peter Rules Absolutely (continued) n Establishing St. Petersburg – Peter wants a seaport that will make travel to West easier. – Fights Sweden to win port on Baltic Sea – In 1703, begins building new capital called St. Petersburg. – Building city takes many years, many serfs die in process. – By the time of Peter’s death, Russia is force to be reckoned with in Europe
Background info Born Sophie n Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst n Married Peter III as a diplomatic mission (cement relation b/w Russia and Prussia) n Ruled 1761 -96 n
From Peter I to Catherine II n n n n Peter I (the Great) Catherine I (2 nd wife of Peter I) Peter II (son of Peter and Catherine) Anna (daughter of Peter I’s half brother Ivan V) Ivan VI (Adopted son of Anna- less than one yr old, overthrown by Elisabeth) Elisabeth (2 nd oldest daughter of Peter and Catherine) Peter III (son of Anna) marries Catherine allegedly murders Peter III to take throne
The “bloodless” coup n When Peter traveled to Prussia, Catherine, with the help of the palace guard, overthrew him. n Three days later, Peter dies, and many accuse Catherine, who also murdered two other claimants to the throne.
Russo-Turkish War n Catherine made Russia the dominant power in south-eastern Europe after her first Russo-Turkish War against the Ottoman Empire. n The Russian victories allowed Catherine's government to obtain access to the Black Sea and to incorporate the vast steppes of present-day southern Ukraine.
2 nd Russo-Turkish War n Catherine annexed the Crimea in 1783, a mere nine years after the Crimean Khanate had gained independence from the Ottoman Empire as a result of her first war against the Turks. The Ottomans started a second Russo-Turkish War (1787– 1792) during Catherine's reign. This war proved catastrophic for the Ottomans and ended with the Treaty of Jassy (1792), which legitimized the Russian claim to Crimea.
The Partitions of Poland In 1764 Catherine placed Stanisław Poniatowski, her former lover, on the Polish throne. Although the idea of partitioning Poland came from the Prussian king Frederick the Great, Catherine took a leading role in carrying this out in the 1790 s. In 1768 she became formally protectress of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, which provoked an anti-Russian uprising in Poland n After smashing the uprising she established in the Rzeczpospolita a system of government fully controlled by the Russian Empire through a Permanent Council under the supervision of her ambassadors and envoys. n
Relations with Europe n From 1788 to 1790, Russia fought the Russo. Swedish War against Sweden, instigated by Catherine's cousin, the King Gustav III of Sweden. Expecting to simply overtake the Russian armies still engaged in war against the Ottoman Turks and hoping to strike Saint Petersburg directly, the Swedes ultimately faced mounting human and territorial losses when opposed by Russia's Baltic Fleet. After Denmark declared war on Sweden in 1788, things looked bleak for the Swedes.
Art & Culture n n n Called herself a “philosopher on throne” Embraced the Enlightenment Expanded the arts Wrote a manual for educating young children Invited many scientists to Russia Allowed Diderot to finish his Encyclopedia in Russia
Her private life Stanislaw Poniatowski- former lover placed on throne of Poland then partition into oblivion n Grigori Orlov- helped Catherine take throne, thought he was going to marry her, but instead remained her servant n Grigory Potemkin- helped with Catherine’s coupused for military matters- some thought he had the power- convinced her to take the Crimean n
- Slides: 17