Do Now: If Tsar Peter the Great is cutting off the beards of nobles to make

them look like Western Europeans, what other kinds of changes do you think he will bring to Russia?

Tsar Peter the Great with a pair of shears, about to remove the beard

of a conservative subject.

Aim: How did Peter the Great try to change the Russian Empire in the time period 1450-1750?

Easter in Moscow in the 1600s. The Churches reflect Russian architectural traditions, but the wall design was created by Italian

and English architects.

What is “Westernization”?

• An attempt to incorporate the culture, attributes and especially the technology of the Western world (Western Europe).

Consider: What do you think might keep Peter’s dream of a westernized Russia from happening?

RISE OF RUSSIAHOW DID WESTERNIZATION IMPACT RUSSIA?

POLITICALWESTERNIZED METHODSOLD RUSSIAN METHODS

Centralized Feudal gov’t – Prince ruled with help of the Noble landlords

(Boyars.) Major decisions were made by the prince and confirmed by the Boyar

Duma. A bureaucracy (prikazy) developed – conducted everyday rule. Secret police used for control. Military expansion used to gain loyalty, church-

state unity

Centralized gov’t – led by Czar as aristocratic power declined, Enlightenment

ideals adopted (Enlightened Despots) Developed schools, literacy, science

Censored some western literature, upgraded military

HOW DID WESTERNIZATION IMPACT RUSSIA?

SOCIAL

Orthodox Religion dominated, Heroic epics, music, festivals, onion shaped domes religious art icon painting, written history, strong family ties, many relatives women

seen as inferior, strict role

Italian architects design buildings and palaces Royal Court spoke French, perform ballet

Advanced schools for elite, culture gap develops between elite and commoners

HOW DID WESTERNIZATION IMPACT RUSSIA?

ECONOMIC

Agricultural - primitive methods, local consumption small merchant class, small

cities, no major technological changes Based on serfdom (Coercive labor)

enforced feudal system

Developed trade network - manufactured goods, furs, timber, wheat, begin to use

natural resources Government regulations, created Port city of St. Petersburg

(Window to the West)

Building A Glorious Empire in Russia

Louis XIV’s Versailles Palace

Peter The Great’s Winter Palace

What was Peter trying to tell the world by building a palace like this one?Answer as if you are Peter.

Peter the Great’s Westernization Reforms

• Traveled secretly in Western Europe to learn the new __________ and __________ techniques.

• Brought western European artisans and technicians back to Russia.

• Built a modern Western European style __________________.

• Imitated Western European artistic and _______________ styles

• Imported Western European – especially ________ - manners to the royal court.

• Made the nobles dress in Western European clothes and learn French and English.

sciencemilitary

army and navy

architectural

French

St. Petersburg One of Peter's main goals was to regain access to the Baltic Sea and Baltic trade. In 1700

he started the Northern War with Sweden, which lasted for 21 years, and resulted in a victorious Russia taking the vast lands on the Baltic coast as its spoils of war. During the course of the war St. Petersburg was founded (1703) on the delta of the Neva River and the city rapidly grew to become a major seaport, as Russia gained greater and greater

access to European trade routes.

One of Peter's main goals was to regain access to the Baltic Sea and Baltic trade. In 1700 he started the Northern War with Sweden, which lasted for 21 years, and resulted in a

victorious Russia taking the vast lands on the Baltic coast as its spoils of war. During the course of the war St. Petersburg was founded (1703) on the delta of the Neva River and the city rapidly grew to become a major seaport, as Russia gained greater and greater

access to European trade routes.

Video Clip!

Peter_the_Great.mov

A Westernized Russia?

• How much impact do you think Peter’s Westernization program had on their lives?

• How do you think they felt about their local noble dressing like a Westerner?

Though photographed in the late 19th century, these woodchoppers

look much like their ancestors during the time of Peter the Great.

Based on this graphic, what effect

do you think Peter’s reforms

were having on the Russian

civilization?

Predict: Do you think Russia will be

able to compete with Europe in spite of the cultural and

economic split between the nobles and the peasants?

The Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood 1905 and Today

Magnificent Great Palace at Petrodvorets, Peterhof (a place outside St Petersburg), the abundance of fountains, gold and

greenery.

Catherine the GreatTreatment of Social Classes

•Freed nobles from state services and taxes

•Increased serfdom

•Made nobles status hereditary, gave them full control over their serfs – could sell them

•No merchant class

•Freed nobles from state services and taxes

•Increased serfdom

•Made nobles status hereditary, gave them full control over their serfs – could sell them

•No merchant class

So much for all that “liberty” talk! If we complain, we will be

whipped and imprisoned for life!

So much for all that “liberty” talk! If we complain, we will be

whipped and imprisoned for life!

Enlightened Despot

•Friend of Voltaire and other philosophes

•Patronized the arts, created Hermitage Museum

•Increased education – especially for girls

•Created medical commission – took first vaccine in Russia and improved medical conditions

•Encouraged modernization of agriculture and industry

•Relaxed censorship laws

•Friend of Voltaire and other philosophes

•Patronized the arts, created Hermitage Museum

•Increased education – especially for girls

•Created medical commission – took first vaccine in Russia and improved medical conditions

•Encouraged modernization of agriculture and industry

•Relaxed censorship laws

Catherine the Great

Catherine believed that all citizens are equal and subject to the same laws!

Did you know that Catherine is actually a pen pal of Voltaire!

Catherine believed that all citizens are equal and subject to the same laws!

Did you know that Catherine is actually a pen pal of Voltaire!

The Pugachev Rebellion

Pugachev's Rebellion (or the Cossack Rebellion) of 1774-75 was the principal

revolt in a series of popular rebellions that took place in Russia after Catherine II

seized power in 1762.

It began as an organized insurrection of Cossacks headed by Emelyan Pugachev, a disaffected ex-lieutenant of the Russian Imperial army. After the initial success,

Pugachev assumed leadership of an alternative government and claimed to be

the assassinated Tsar Peter III.

Tsar Peter III

Emelyan Pugachev

Reaction of Peasants

Reaction of Peasants

Set up gov’t in Ukraine – abolished serfdom, did away with taxes, threw compulsory military service

Catherine mobilized against him – captured him and brought to St.Petersburg in a cage and killed.

Set up gov’t in Ukraine – abolished serfdom, did away with taxes, threw compulsory military service

Catherine mobilized against him – captured him and brought to St.Petersburg in a cage and killed.

Catherine the Great

Pugachev’s "royal decrees" or ukases were copied and sent to villages. In these documents, he promised to grant the people land, salt, and grain. He would lower taxes, stop military conscription and free the serfs.

Pugachev’s "royal decrees" or ukases were copied and sent to villages. In these documents, he promised to grant the people land, salt, and grain. He would lower taxes, stop military conscription and free the serfs.

These villainous nobles must be executed! Catherine cages me like she

cages all the peasants of Russia!

These villainous nobles must be executed! Catherine cages me like she

cages all the peasants of Russia!

Expanded the Empire

Added 200,000 square miles to empire

Won Crimean Black Sea port from Ottomans

Pushed for colonization of Siberia – Claimed Alaska

Partitioned Poland with Prussia and Austria

Added 200,000 square miles to empire

Won Crimean Black Sea port from Ottomans

Pushed for colonization of Siberia – Claimed Alaska

Partitioned Poland with Prussia and Austria

Catherine the Great

We have finally annexed the Crimea and have a warm water

port into the Mediterranean!

We have finally annexed the Crimea and have a warm water

port into the Mediterranean!

Coercive Labor: Western Europe vs. Eastern Europe

Western Europe Eastern Europe

Lack of labor

Monarchs allow peasants to hire out their labor

Peasants leave for towns and cities chartered by the monarch

Peasants pay taxes to monarchs; monarchs now build standing

armies, infrastructure and navies

Allows kings to control the nobles

Limits on the nobility allows merchant class to develop

Expansion and trade

Plantations and slavery

Lack of labor

Tsar increases peasant obligations to the nobles

Nobles have near total control of the serfs

Tsars cannot control the nobles

Pugachev Rebellion ends with the help of the nobles

Catherine squashes towns and cities

No merchant class develops in Russia

Serfs remain property of nobles

Nobles can sell serfs apart from the land