Russia: The Foundation of an Absolutist State

The Time of Troubles

1. Opposition to Tzars Policies of Expansion and Centralization
• Boyars - Elite Military Aristocracy (Like knights or samurai)
2. Ivan the IV - Ivan the Terrible (reigned 1533-1584)
   1. Early History
      1. Began Reign at 16.
      2. Married into the Boyar clan the Romanovs.
      3. Improved Administration and rooted out Corruption in Government.
      4. Chosen Council, advisors choosen based on talent not families.
      5. "Assemblies of the Land" - Meetings of Representatives.
   2. Crisis
      • Abdicated throne because Boyars were making it difficult to govern.
      • Returned on the condition, of given new powers to deal with Boyars.
   3. Ivan's Reign of Terror
      • Created new aristocracy, the Oprichniki, by redistributing lands and fashioned a private army consisting of these loyal aristocrats.
      • Army hunted down treason and laid waiste to numerious civilian populations.
      • Ivan's eccentric behavior mights have been the result of medical problems.
   4. War and Famine
      • Ivan died with no heir - resulting in famine and civil wars.
      • Invasion by Poland and Sweden.
      • Mikhail Romanov new tzar. (Dynasty lasted until 1917).

Russia: Westernization and Empire

1. Peter I called Peter the Great (reigned 1682-1725)
   • Fascintated with Technology
   • Forced and Rapid Modernization.
     1. Base Russian Industries on advanced Science and Technology.
     2. Sent Russians to Study Abroad.
     3. Traveled to western Europe to learn abut governments, military and industries.
2. Peters Reforms
   • Military Reforms
   1. Better Paid Military
   2. Better Train Military
   • Aristocratic Officiers had to study Math and Geometry.
   3. Modern Weapons

   Result: Built Largest Army in Europe - Defeated Sweden in the Great Northern War.

   • Bureaucratic Reforms.
   1. Nobles Served as Government Officials.
   2. Established the Table of Ranks based on Merit.
• Social Reforms.
  1. Abolished the terem (harem)
  2. Encouraged Social mixing of the sexes.
  3. Ordered women to wear western clothes
  4. Men to shave thier beards.
3. St. Petersburg

• New capital on the Baltic Sea built by Peter as a "Window on the West".
• Peter transfered many government offices and noble families to the new capital.