Absolute Monarchy in RussiaPg. 431Name______
European Studies – Honors
I. Peter the Great
A. Journey to the West
In 1697 Peter set out to study western technology. Upon his return home, he embarked on a policy of westernization. To impose his will, Peter became the most autocratic of Europe’s absolutemonarchs.
B. Autocrat & Reformer
At home Peter wanted to strengthen the military, expand Russian borders, and centralize royal power. To achieve this he brought the Russian Orthodox Church under his control and forced the boyars to serve the state in civilian or military jobs.
Under Peter, serfdom spread in Russia. He forced some serfs to become soldiers or labor on roads, canals, or other government projects. He pushed through social and economic reforms.
Some changes had symbolic meaning, such as having the boyars shave their beards. Peter had no mercy for anyone that resisted the new order. After elite palace guards revolted, he had over 1000 of the rebels tortured and executed. As an example of his power, he left their rotting corpses outside the palace walls for months.
II. Expansion Under Peter
A. Search for a Warm Water Port
Russian seaports in were frozen over in winter. To increase Russia’s ability to trade with the West, Peter wanted a warm-water port. The nearest warm-water port was along the Black Sea. Peter would have to push through the Ottoman Empire to gain the port. He was unable to do so, but a later Russian monarch, Catherine the Great would be able to.
B. War with Sweden
Peter began a long war against the Kingdom of Sweden. After suffering an initial defeat, Peter won land along the Baltic Sea.
C. Peter’s City
On land won from Sweden, Peter built a new capital city called St. Petersburg. After having serfs drain the swamps, he invited Italian architects to design great palaces in western style. Just as Versailles would become a monument to French absolutism, St. Petersburg became the great symbol of Peter’s desire to forge a modern Russia.
D. Toward the Pacific
Russian traders crossed the plains of Siberia. Under Peter, Russia signed a treaty with China. Peter hired Danish navigator Vitus Bering to explore what became known as the Bering Strait.
III. Legacy of Peter the Great
A. Peter dies in 1725
During his life he had expanded Russian territory, gained ports on the Baltic Sea, and created a mighty army. He ended Russia’s long period of isolationism. Some of his reforms died along with him. Peter had used terror to enforce his absolute power. His policies contributed to the growth of serfdom, which served only to widen the gap between Russia and the west.
IV. Catherine the Great
Catherine was a German princess by birth. In 1762, her czar husband Peter III was murdered by a group of Russian army officers. She ascended to the throne herself.
A. An Efficient Ruler
Catherine reorganized the provincial government, codified laws, and began state-sponsored education for boys and girls. Like Peter, she embraced western ideas. She was a serious student of French thinkers who led the intellectual movement known as the Enlightenment.
B. A Ruthless Absolute Monarch
Catherine granted a charter to the boyars outlining important rights, such as exemption from taxes. She allowed them to increase their stranglehold on peasants. Under Catherine even more peasants were forced into serfdom.
Like Peter, Catherine sought a warm-water port. After fighting a war against the Ottomans, she gained a port on the Black Sea. She also took steps to seize territory from Poland.
C. Partition of Poland
Poland had once been a powerful European power, but they were unable to stand up to the growing power of its neighbors Russia, Prussia, and Austria. In the 1770’s, Catherine the Great, Frederick the Great (Prussia), and Joseph II (Austria) eyed Poland. The three monarchs agreed to partition Poland. Catherine took eastern Poland where many Russians and Ukrainians lived. After two more partitioning’s, Poland disappeared from the map.
Absolute Monarchy in RussiaPg. 431Name______
European Studies – Honors
I. Peter the Great
A. Journey to the West
In 1697 Peter set out to study ______technology. Upon his return home, he embarked on a policy of ______. To impose his will, Peter became the most ______of Europe’s ______.
B. Autocrat & Reformer
At home Peter wanted to strengthen the ______, expand Russian ______, and ______royal power. To achieve this he brought the ______under his control and forced the ______to serve the state in civilian or military jobs.
Under Peter, ______spread in Russia. He forced some serfs to become soldiers or labor on ______, ______, or other ______projects. He pushed through ______reforms.
Some changes had ______meaning, such as having the boyars shave their beards. Peter had no mercy for anyone that resisted the new order. After elite palace guards revolted, he had over 1000 of the rebels______and ______. As an example of his power, he left their rotting corpses outside the palace walls for months.
II. Expansion Under Peter
A. Search for a Warm Water Port
Russian ______in were frozen over in winter. To increase Russia’s ability to trade with the West, Peter wanted ______. The nearest warm-water port was along the ______. Peter would have to push through the ______to gain the port. He was unable to do so, but a later Russian monarch, ______would be able to.
B. War with Sweden
Peter began a long war against the Kingdom of ______. After suffering an initial defeat, Peter won land along the ______.
C. Peter’s City
On land won from ______, Peter built a new capital city called ______. After having ______drain the swamps, he invited ______architects to design great palaces in ______style. Just as ______would become a monument to ______absolutism, St. Petersburg became the great symbol of Peter’s desire to forge a ______Russia.
D. Toward the Pacific
Russian traders crossed the plains of ______. Under Peter, Russia signed a treaty with ______. Peter hired Danish navigator ______to explore what became known as the ______.
III. Legacy of Peter the Great
A. Peter dies in ______
During his life he had expanded Russian ______, gained ports on the ______, and created a mighty ______. He ended Russia’s long period of ______. Some of his reforms died along with him. Peter had used ______to enforce his absolute power. His policies contributed to the growth of ______, which served only to widen the gap between Russia and the ______.
IV. Catherine the Great
Catherine was a ______princess by birth. In 1762, her czar husband ______was murdered by a group of Russian army officers. She ascended to the throne herself.
A. An Efficient Ruler
Catherine reorganized the ______, ______laws, and began state-sponsored ______for boys and girls. Like Peter, she embraced ______ideas. She was a serious student of French thinkers who led the intellectual movement known as the ______.
B. A Ruthless Absolute Monarch
Catherine granted a charter to the ______outlining important rights, such as exemption from ______. She allowed them to increase their stranglehold on ______. Under Catherine even more peasants were forced into ______.
Like Peter, Catherine sought ______. After fighting a war against the ______, she gained a port on the ______. She also took steps to seize territory from ______.
C. Partition of Poland
______had once been a powerful European power, but they were unable to stand up to the growing power of its neighbors______, ______, and ______. In the 1770’s, Catherine the Great, ______(Prussia), and ______(Austria) eyed Poland. The three monarchs agreed to ______Poland. Catherine took eastern Poland where many Russians and Ukrainians lived. After two more partitioning’s, Poland disappeared from the map.