Russia began as Kievan Rus in the 600s-1200s, a collection of feudal states. It was later conquered by the Mongol Empire from 1200s-1400s. After their withdrawal, Russia was engulfed in civil wars between powerful families until the Romanov Dynasty began in 1613, restoring independence. Over the next centuries, the Russian Empire expanded greatly through conquest, absorbing new lands and peoples to its west, east, and south. It modernized under Peter the Great in the early 1700s but remained a largely traditional, agricultural society dominated by nobles, with serfdom and social unrest widespread.

2. Russia
Brief History of an Empire
1450s to 1700s

3. CULTURAL & POLITICAL
INFLUENCES on RUSSIA
Slavic, Viking, European and
Central Asian cultural
influences
Parts of Asian Russia had
converted to Islam

4. Orthodox
Christianity was
eventually dominant.

5. Early Russia & Mongol Invasion
In the 600s-1200s, feudal warlords
were loosely organized into what
was called Kievan Rus.
The Mongols invaded and Russia
became part of the Mongol Empire
from the 1200s to 1400s.

7. Russia 1450 – 1600s
After the Mongols withdrew,
conflicts over the rule of Russia
between powerful boyar
families led to a series of civil
wars and outside invasions.

8. The Romanovs
The Romanov Dynasty began in 1613,
when Russian independence was
restored (lasting to 1914).

10. The power of the Tsars increased –
toward ABSOLUTISM
Councils of Russian nobles were
eliminated
Trained bureaucrats came from the
“lower classes”
The secret police & the Tsar’s special
forces suppressed rebellion.

13. Russia became one of the
great land empires 1500s-
1800.
Russian armies took control of
new territories.
“Pioneers” expanded Russian
territorial control

14. The Russian Empire,
like Euro Maritime Empires, . . .
Expanded for profit, to spread
Christianity, and gain power.
Had a powerful military with gunpowder
weapons
Demanded tax (tribute or yasak) from
conquered peoples (furs)
Oversaw the development of new
territories through settlers

15. The Russian Empire,
UNLIKE Euro Maritime Empires,
was NOT a distinct European state
before it built its empire
conquered some regions for “security”
conquered regions “close” to their
heartland
absorbed conquered people or
“Russified” them
Was less intense in its efforts at
converting natives to Christianity.

16. Russian interaction with . . .
Ottoman Empire, Eastern
Europe, and Central Asia
Russian war victories led to
territorial gains (especially
Poland and around the Caspian
sea)
China – mutual agreement on
boundaries

17. Russian interaction with . . .
• Western Europe – Westerners
carried on much of the trade in
Russia, Western styles from
architecture to the military were
mimicked in Russia, but Russia
remained politically isolated from
Western Europe.

18. New Openness to the West
1689-1725 Tsar Peter the Great
Forced
Westernization
Modernized the
army, built a navy,
and continued
expansion
Instituted an
educational system
and offered freedom
for women.

19. •Pushed for
Western dress,
architecture,
science &
•Shaved BEARDS!

20.  Allowed mobility in government based upon
merit
 Built St. Petersburg as a new capital
 Organized and modernized trade and
commerce.

24. Reform, then Repression:
1762-1796 Catherine the Great
(Tsarina)
Continued expansion
and westernization
Was initially open to
social reforms as an
“Enlightened Despot”
The French Revolution
& rebellion at home
caused her to become
more oppressive

25. However,
Russia remained a traditional
agricultural society.
Nobles continued to control the
lower classes.
– Serfdom was expanded and rural
peasants suffered
– Little freedom was offered to the
lower classes
Social unrest and revolt was
common