What was the Edict of Nantes and who came

up with it? What section tells you what the document is about?

A declaration of religious freedom Henry IV of France

Bell Ringer

Russian Czars become absolute rulers:

- Ivan the Terrible - Peter the Great

Video: Biography of Ivan the Terrible Westernizing Russia Video: St. Petersburg

Agenda/Objectives

Ivan IV – “Ivan the Terrible” Came to power in 1533, he was only 3 years

old. Struggle for power – Boyars fought to control

Ivan. Boyar - landowning noble. Ivan – at 16 seized power and named himself

czar. Which means??? Title meant Caesar.

Russian Czars Increase Power

Ivan the Terrible

1547 – 1560: known as Ivan’s good period - gained land - ruled justly

1560: Bad period… Dum dum dum dum! Who died??? Anastasia, his wife

Ivan the Terrible

Accused Boyars of poisoning his wife. Police force = hunt down traitors and kill

them. - dressed in black and rode black horses. Thousands of Boyars died.

Boyar’s land was seized and given to new class of nobles who had to be loyal.

Bad Period

“In front of your army have I marched – and marched

again; and no dishonor have I brought upon you, but only brilliant victories… But to you, O czar, was all this as naught; rather do you show us your intolerable wrath and bitterest hatred, and furthermore, burnings ( a means of torture).

Is he happy or upset? What class do you think Andrew was a part of? Was he loyal to Ivan? What does this say about many of the loyalties of the

Boyar?

Prince Andrew Kurbsky

1581 – Killed his oldest son. Died 3 years later. His second weak son was left to rule.

Ivan made a terrible mistake….

Ivan’s son both physically and mentally weak. Died without an heir. What do you think happens now??? Turmoil = “Times of Trouble” Boyars vs. heirs of czars Heir of czars kept dying “mysteriously”

1613 - Representatives from the major cities chose an heir – Michael Romanov.

Rise of the Romanovs1613- 1917

Took power in 1696. One of Russia’s greatest reformers.

Peter the Great

Still a land of Boyars and serfs. Serfdoms lasted until the mid 1800s. Most Boyars did not know about Western

Europe. - Mongol rule cut them off from the

Renaissance and Age of Explorations. Geographic barriers. Religion: Eastern Orthodox Christians. - Viewed Catholics and protestants as heretics.

Russia’s difference from Europe

1697 – At age 25, Peter embarked on the “Grand

Embassy”. Goal – Wanted to learn about European customs and

industrial techniques. Brought 200 servants and 55 boyars. First to travel to the west and be among the “heretics”. Kept his identity a secret. - Wore plain clothes and labored as a ship’s carpenter

for 4 months. His identity was not well hidden. Travelled to England and Austria before going home.

Peter Visits the West

After trip wanted to compete both

economically and militarily. Westernization: Idea of using Western

Europe as a model for change. Peter saw it as a change to better Russia.

Peter rules absolutely

Peter increased his power to as an absolute ruler. Russian Orthodox church under state control.

- abolished the patriarch or head of church and formed a group called Holy Synod.

Like Ivan IV, Peter lowered power of land owners. Recruited low ranking families and gave them land

based on loyalty. Modernized army: hired European officers.

- His army would reach 200,000.Imposed heavy taxes.

Reforms

Introduced potatoes, became a staple of the

Russian diet. Started Russia’s first newspaper and edited

the first issue himself. Raised women’s status by letting them attend

social gatherings. Ordered nobles to give up their traditional

clothes for Western fashions.

Westernizing Russia

1703: End of a 21 year war with Sweden. Gained land on the Neva river near the Baltic

sea.

Named the new capital St. Petersburg after his patron saint.

Building the capital cost around 100,000 lives. Swampy conditions

A new capital

Died in 1725. By that time he raised the status of Russia

among the European powers. Now a forced to be reckoned with in Europe.

Legacy of Peter

Do you think Ivan the Terrible or Peter the

Great was more of an absolute Monarch? Explain your answer giving specific examples from notes…

Essay/homework

List the steps Peter took to reveal himself as

the highest authority of Russia.

Peter the Great