Aim How should we remember Absolutism in Russia

Aim: How should we remember Absolutism in Russia? Do Now: Using the paintings above, who do you think was the most just absolute monarch of Russia? Why do you think so?

I Medieval Russia A) Batu (grandson of Genghis) conquered Russia 1223. The Mongols destroyed most of Kievan Rus and installed Russian princes as “puppet rulers” so long as they paid tribute (taxes) to the Mongols. B) Ivan III (Ivan the Great) of Moscow ended 200 years of Mongol rule, and made Moscow the center of Russian rule. Ivan The Great 1440 - 1505

II Ivan IV “The Terrible” (Really “the Formidable”) A) 1547 Ivan IV proclaimed himself czar/tsar (Caesar); absolute ruler of Russia. B) Built St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. C) Resisted the Mongols and expanded the size of Russia, but failed to gain access to the Black Sea (and a warm water port). D) After the death of his wife in 1560, he began a 24 year reign of terror. ü Created the Oprichniki (a secret police force) who rode on black horses wearing all black. ü Anyone suspected of treason was exiled to Siberia or executed. “The czar is in nature like all men, but in authority he is like the highest God. ” – Ivan the Terrible 1530 - 1584

Why did Russian Czars Want a Warm Water Port? The Baltic Sea freezes in winter. In order to have a year round navy, the closest year round warm water port would be by the Black Sea.

Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivanovich, 15 Nov, 1581 Ivan the Terrible had been ignored as a child by his family after his mother’s death, and allegedly tortured small animals. Ivan beat his pregnant daughter-in-law, causing a miscarriage, killed his son in a fit of rage, and blinded the architect of St. Basil's Cathedral.

St. Basil’s Cathedral

St. Basil’s Cathedral Interior

III Peter the Great 1672 - 1725 A) Peter “The Great” became czar at 10 years old. B) Lost wars with the Ottomans in attempt to gain access to the Black Sea (for a warm water port), but he won land by the Baltic Sea, and sent explorers to Siberia and Alaska. C) 1697 Peter traveled to Western Europe in disguise. Reforms to advance Russia. ü Built Russia’s 1 st navy ü Built city of St. Petersburg, modeled on Amsterdam. ü Forced boyars (Russian nobles) to trim their beards or pay a tax, and wear “western” clothes. ü Built colleges ü Reduced power of the Orthodox Church

Peter the Great Continued… “I will deprive you of the succession, as one may cut off a useless member… Do not fancy that, because I have no other child but you, I only write this to terrify you. I will certainly put it in execution if it please God; for whereas I do not spare my own life for my country and the welfare of my people, why should I spare you who do not render yourself worthy of either? I would rather choose to transmit them to a worthy stranger than to my own unworthy son. ” – Peter the Great to his son Alexei (25 years old) 1715 Alexei was later arrested for treason and tortured to death, which Peter watched. At the funeral, Peter wept. Alexei Petrovich Romanov 1690 – 1718

Peter the Great Continued… St. Petersburg was Russia’s “Window on the West”. It was designed by Western engineers to imitate Amsterdam St. Petersburg

IV Catherine the Great 1729 - 1796 A) Born a German princess, at 15 she wed Czar Peter III. In 1762 her husband was murdered, and Catherine took the throne.

Catherine the Great Continued… B) Like Peter the Great, Catherine wanted to modernize Russia. ü She promoted the French language and culture ü She gained access to the Black Sea from the Ottoman Turks and a warm water port (unlike Peter the Great!) ü She promoted many ideals of the Renaissance and the Enlightenment (Age of Reason), and sponsored artists. C) Due to fear of her life, Catherine gave greater rights to the boyars (Russian nobles) over their serfs, even though she knew serfdom was immoral. Inspired by enlightenment ideas, Catherine the Great is often called an “enlightened despot”.

Catherine the Great’s Palace

Summary Questions *Use evidence 1. Why did absolute monarchs of Russia choose the title of “Czar”? 2. What were the achievements of Ivan IV “The Terrible”? 3. Did Ivan IV “The Terrible” abuse his power? 4. What were the achievements of Peter the Great? 5. Did Peter the Great abuse his power? 6. What were the achievements of Catherine the Great? 7. Did Catherine the Great abuse her power? 8. Who was the greatest absolute monarch of Russia? The worst?

Key Vocabulary Boyars Catherine the Great Czar (Tsar) Enlightened Despot Ivan the Great Ivan IV “The Terrible” Oprichniki Peter the Great St. Basil’s Cathedral Warm Water Port