Early Russian History Russia Today Former Soviet Region

Early Russian History

Russia Today

Former Soviet Region Compared in Latitude & Area with the United States

Russia’s Time Zones

Topography of Russia

Rich Soil of the Steppes Chernozem Soil

Themes in Russian History • Expansion by conquest. – Need for warm-water ports. • The necessity of a strong, central government. §Siberia (“Permafrost”) §Average temperatures of January vary from 0 to -50°C, and in July from 1 to 25°C § 150, 000 population.

Early Russia

Early Byzantine Influences: • Orthodox Christianity • Cyrillic Alphabet

Russian Expansion

The Mongols Invade Russia

Russian Boyars • Boyars represented an aristocratic tier of society – powerful group with the privilege of advising the Tsar • Russian people said, “The tsar said it, the Boyars did it”. • These members of the nobility took up the highest military and civil posts – Formed a supreme council, the Duma • Besides the real aristocracy, a rich landowner could also be called a Boyar. – A modified form – barin was used by serfs to address their masters until the 19 th century.

Ivan the (III) Great (r. 14621505) • Tripled Russian territory • Ended control by Golden Horde • Renovated the Kremlin • Laid foundation for Russian State • One of longest-reigning Russian rulers

Ivan the Terrible (r. 1533 -1584) • Grand Prince (1533 -1547) • First “Tsar of all Russians” until 1584 • Transformed Russia from medieval state into an empire – Resisted Golden Horde – Gain Access to Baltic Sea – Reign of terror (1560 -1584) • Blamed Boyars for death of wife

Russia in the Late 1500 s

Romanov Dynasty • Feodor rules after death of Ivan IV – Russia spirals into Time of Troubles • Time between death of Feodor (1598) and rise of Romanov family (1613) – Famine brought on by cold weather • 1/3 of Russia’s population dies (~ 2 million) • Russia controlled by Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth – Result of Polish-Muscovite War (1605 -1618)

Michael Romanov (r. 1613 -1645) Romanov Family Crest

The Pendulum of Russian History Pro-West For Progress & Change Encourage New Ideas, Technologies, etc. Anti-West Isolationist Xenophobic Ultra-Conservative § A few Tsars § Most Tsars § Intellectual elites § Russian Orthodox Church § Merchants/businessmen § Young members of the middle class. § Military § Boyars § peasants REFORM-MINDED LEADER DEMAGOGUE

Peter the Great(ish)

Peter the Great (r. 1682 -1725) • Best known for his extensive reforms in an attempt to establish Russia as a great nation – Created a strong navy – Reorganized army according to Western standards – Secularized schools – Administered greater control over Orthodox Church – Introduced new administrative and territorial divisions of the country.

Peter the Great • • Focused on science and technology Developed commerce and industry Created a viable Senate Won territory through war • BUT – Known to be cruel, tyrannical – Continuously raised taxes – Violent tendencies, heavy drinker

Russia & Sweden After the Great Northern War