Absolute Rulers of Russia

1. Absolute Rulers of Russia Ivan the Terrible

2. Ivan the Terrible Ivan IV takes the throne in 1533 - he is 3 years old His mother rules on his behalf until her death when Ivan is 5

3. Ivan the Terrible Boyars- the landowning nobility in Russia The boyars fight for control of the young prince and for POWER - Ivan is terrified

4. Ivan the Terrible • Ivan crowns himself Czar of Russia when he is 16 years old • He is the first Czar of Russia • Czar = Emperor

5. Ivan the Terrible “The Good Period” 1547 to 1560 Ivan conquers land in an effort to boost the economy - wants to have sea routes to Russia - goes to war with Sweden and Poland Ivan later loses his new territories

6. Ivan the Terrible “Ivan the Terrible” Ivan turns against Russia Oprichniki- Ivan’s secret police -dressed in all black and rode black horses - murdered anyone Ivan suspected of being a traitor (mostly boyars) Murdered a possible 5,000 or more subjects

7. Ivan the Terrible Ivan’s most terrible act Ivan murders his only viable heir in a fit of rage in 1581 Leads to a later period, the Time of Troubles, when boyars fought and there was no powerful czar to control them

8. Absolute Rulers of Russia From Ivan IV to Ivan the Terrible

9. Absolute Rulers of Russia Peter the Great

10. Peter the Great Peter the Great first shares the throne with his half-brother Becomes sole ruler of Russia In 1696 Nicknamed ‘Peter the Great” because he was Russia’s great reformer

11. Peter the Great Peter the Great first shares the throne with his half-brother Becomes sole ruler of Russia In 1696 Nicknamed ‘Peter the Great” because he was Russia’s great reformer

12. Peter the Great • Russia is trapped in the dark ages • Serfdom lasts until the mid-1800’s • little contact with Western Europe • Russians are Orthodox Christians- see Catholics and Protestants as heretics

13. Peter the Great Peter Travels West Embarks on a “Grand Embassy”- a trip through western Europe to learn about their customs, manufacturing, and military Dresses as a commoner as not to be recognized

14. Peter the Great Peter Westernizes Russia Westernization- using Western Europe as a model for change

15. Peter the Great • Peter Westernizes Russia • Must use force to promote change • Brings Russian Orthodox Church under his control • Reduces the power of the boyars/gives power positions to men from lower families • builds a strong army trained by westerners • - enforces heavy taxes to pay for army

16. Peter the Great • Peter Westernizes Russia • Westernization of Russia: • Potatoes become a staple to the Russian diet • Peter starts and edits the first Russian newspaper • He allowed women to attend social gatherings • Made nobles dress like Westerners • Opened a school of navigation

17. Peter the Great A school of navigation? Wonder where he got this idea from? Education is Key!!! Peter believes education is key to success! - allows (and orders) subjects to travel to foreign lands to study science He was a known genius!

18. Peter the Great • The Rise of St. Petersburg • A working sea route = a successful economy • The city of St. Petersburg • Located on the Baltic Sea • A swampy wasteland • Peter takes the territory from Sweden

19. Peter the Great The Rise of St. Petersburg Peter sends serfs every summer to build the city of St. Petersburg - 25,000 to 100,000 die from work conditions and disease St. Petersburg becomes the new capital of Russia and a productive sea port