Growth of Russia

Muscovite - Catherinian

European vs. Eastern Russia

Tsar Ivan I d.

Tsar Ivan IV “The Terrible” 1533-1584

• Ivan IV inherits throne as a child, kept prisoner by Boyar Duma throughout most of his childhood. (psychological effects)

• Marries Anastasia Romanov, “good” period.• Connections with the West: British Muscovy

Company.• She dies, he goes into a fit of depression and rage

against nobility. Oprichnina• Comes back to “normal” but then kills his son,

Ivan

Ilya Repin’s Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on November 16, 1581. 1885.

• Time of Troubles follows until 1613, when the Boyar Duma elect Mikhail Romanov. Stability and expansion follows.

• 1618: Russian explorers and trappers reached upper Yenisei valley in central Siberia.

• 1633-43 Olearius visits Russia• 1649: Reach Pacific Ocean on East Coast of

Russian Empire.

• End of the 17th century, crisis of succession leaves Sophia as regent for her brothers, Ivan V and Peter I.

• She attempts to hold on to power, but is thwarted.

• Ivan not competent, leaving Peter (the Great)• Quest for a warm-water port• Northern Wars for the Baltics• Expansion to the South (Azov) against Turks.– Problem with the Black Sea region…

Ilya Repin’s portrait of Sophia in Novodevichi Convent after her rebellion against Peter

Peter’s attempts to modernize:•Nobility must conform to western European dress and mannerisms•Education abroad•Modernization of military•Building a navy (hence the need for warm water port•St. Petersburg (western style)•Changes calendar•Dies 1725.

Catherine’s reign (1772-96)• Usurps the throne from her husband, Peter III• She is a German Princess, Sophia of Anholt-

Swerbst• Learns Russian, converts to Orthodoxy, gains

support of Streltsy guard• Modernization, freedom from service• Considers liberation of serfs, but doesn’t do it• Correspondent with Voltaire, Enlightened Despot• Part of the Philosophe movement, a liberal

ruler…until 1789.