Society & Politics
- Kingdom expanding - various cultures/languages/practices
- Still very backwards - underdeveloped
- Cossacks - people living outside of villages. Led conquest of Siberia. Defenders of Russia but loyal to no one.
- Troubles - Ice Age, various invasions
- Serfdom Develops - peasants tied to piece of land and bound to perform services for landholder.
Peter the Great
- Rules jointly with his brother...until his brother dies
- Sister serves as regent...joins the monastery
- Has a vision for Russia
- Greatly reforms, innovates, westernizes Russia
- Builds a Russian navy - becomes a ship builder
- Modern architecture, dress, even facial hair
- Tremendous curiosity and thirst for life
- (Also an alcoholic, partier, rash, absolute ruler)
- Death - work is left incomplete - but seed is planted
Russian Empire, 1500-1725
Ivan the "Terrible"
- Tsar - From Roman Caesar
- Russia considered the "Third Rome"
- Ivan
- Grandson of Ivan the "Great"
- Grand Prince at 3; Tsar at 16
- Ruthless leadership tactics
- Quick tempered
- Greatly expands empire - works to keep Mongols out of Russia
- Muscoy - Russian principality
- Rise during Mongol domination
- Rule from 1276-1598
- Based on Moscow
- Muscovite Princes drive out Golden Horde (Tartars) and take over surrounding territories (Novgorod)
Instability
- Devastated by death of his wife - depression
- Horrible fits of rage - paranoia
- Kills his own son
- Becomes obsessed with death
- Dies - leaving Russia in chaos