Imperial Russia Test

Why were Russians called the "Rus"

they are a mixture of Scandinavian and Slavic

Kievan Rus

• Vladimir the Great introduced Christianity

• Yaroslav the Wise established a legal code with punishments and divided kingdom among his sons

• Situation of Kiev declines because there was a lack of who the clear heir was and this led to a civil war

The Golden Horde 1242

• Mongols sacked (invaded

Feudalism

System of exchange

Why did Feudalism last so long

The dominant social system in medieval Europe

Relationship between nobles (boyars) and serfs

Serfs would work on the Nobles land in exchange for shelter

Who is a Czar (Tsar)

The Monarch

Who were the Serfs

Peasants in Russia

Who were the Boyars

Noble class in Russia

Divine Right

The belief that the right to rule is given directly by God

Autocracy

a system of government by 1 person with absolute power

Absolute Monarchy

One person has all the power

Ivan the Terrible

• Became Tsar at 3 years old

What was the time of the Troubles with Ivan the Terrible?

• Ivan IV kills his own son

• His other son (Fyodor) takes over

Oprichnina

Policy that allowed mass executions

Oprichnik

Ivan created a group of bodyguards

Romanov Dynasty

• Boyars elect new Tsar to end troubles

• Michael Romanov elected

• 16 years old

Peter the Great Modernization

• Modernizes technology and military

• Peter moved Russia away from old Russian ways (No beards Emphasis on Modern Science Baroque art)

• Modernizes military

• Builds a Navy

• Prussian-inspired tactics Focused on the military (to improve the Russian military)

Peter the Great Westernization

• Orients Russia toward Western Europe

• Liked to explore and learn for fun

• Peter wants to make Russian culture more "western" (Tours Europe Learns shipbuilding Modern medicine Military tactics Beard Tax Western clothes)

Peter the Great Expansion

• Expands borders

Peter the Great

• Peter's father dies when he is young

• Co-rules with half-brother

• Sister is really in charge

Streltsy

Russian infantry class (soldiers)

Catherine the Great Government Reform

• Increased control landowning boyars (Good for boyars

Catherine the Great Westernization

• Catherine is German and wants to bring Western "sophistication" to the Russian court

• Patron of Western philosophers and artists

• The Hermitage: Art gallery started by Catherine (largest gallery in the world by area today)

• Sets up European style court

Catherine the Great Expansion

• Expanded west into Crimea

Potemkin Villages

to avoid upsetting Catherine

Enlightenment

• Catherine the Great was considered one of the "Enlightened Monarchs"

• Supported art and science (Public health was a big focus)

• Education for women

• No more torture and fear as a political tool

• Made life worse for peasants (Especially after the Pugachev rebellion)

Alexander I

• Napoleon had conquered much of Europe

Nicholas I

He becomes king after Alexander I dies and his older brother Constantine refuses.

• Expanded military

Decembrist Revolt

Soldiers loyal to NI's older brother (Constantine) attempted revolt to put him in power

• NI put down revolt quickly

Alexander II

• The Emancipation Reform of 1861 ( Abolished serfdom on private land Made serfs free citizens

Alexander II assassination

Survived 5 assassination attempts from 1866-1880

Assassinated in 1881 by group called "The People's Will"

"Zemstvo"

Democracy!! Comes under Alexander II

• first attempt of democracy in Russia

Alexander III

COUNTER-REFORMER

• Undid many of AII's reforms

• Limited power of zemstvo

• Stopped creation of advisory board to Tsar

• Hunted down members of "The People's Will" and killed them

Pogrom

Violence against Jewish people in Russia

Russification

Nation containing only one nationality

Nicholas II

last Tsar

• Not prepared for throne

Fatalism

• Everything that happens is bound to happen

• Divine Right

• Belief that all events are predetermined and inevitable

Grigory Rasputin

• Self-proclaimed healer and mystic

• Befriended Nicholas II and Alexandra

Russo-Japanese War

Russia roundly defeated

Revolution of 1905 causes

Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905): Defeat weakened Tsar Nicholas II's credibility.

Economic Hardship: Poor conditions for workers and peasants

hundreds killed. Destroyed the tsar's image as a "benevolent father."

Revolution of 2905 Results

• Widespread strikes

Provisional Government

A temporary government created by the Duma after the abdication of the czar

it made the decision to remain in World War One

costing it the support of the soviets and the people.

Alexander Kerensky

Minister of the provisional Govt

Role of WWI

• Kerensky did not take the Russian soldiers out of the WWI

• No Russians wanted to fight the war

• Lack of Preparation to help their ally Serbia

• More food shortages + inflation due to everything going to the soldiers

• Increased Peasants' anger towards Nicholas and Kerensky

Bourgeoisie

the class of wealth

Proletariat

Industrial working class

Marxism Steps

1. Violent overthrow of the bourgeoisie by the proletariat

2. Socialist phase: Govt takes over private property and the means of production redistribute the wealth [goal is to decrease the gaps between the classes (democratic socialist

"From each according to his ability

to each according to his needs"

Why did Marxism fail

Marx failed to anticipate the expansion of the right to vote

Why is there no true communism in countries today

The government doesn't want to lose its power Without a government

Why was Marxism created

Created because of the social and economic inequalities of the 19th century

How Leninism is DIFFERENT from Marxism and why Lenin had to change it

The party vanguard leading the russian revolution

Party Vanguard → Educated people

They become the dictatorship of the proletariat

March revolution

Mass protests and revolt against the Tsar

Nicholas II abdicates

October Revolution

Communists overthrow provisional government

Bolshevik Revolution causes

Harsh Tsarist Rule: Tsars ruled Russia with absolute power

Bolshevik revolution Outcomes

End of Tsarist Rule: The Romanov dynasty was overthrown

What is a revolution

A sudden

Civil War Causes

Bolsheviks wanted to establish a communist state

Civil War effects

Bolsheviks established control over most of the former Russian empire creating USSR

Political repression → authoritarian rule under Bolsheviks

Why did Putin claim his invasion of Ukraine was justified?

Russia invaded Ukraine in Feb 2022 President Putin of Russia has claimed his invasion was justified for 2 reasons:

NATO and Ukraine posed a military threat to Russia

Russia was entitled to Ukraine through its historical ties to the Soviet Era and Russian Empire (both historians and Ukrainians reject this)

NATO

Ukraine is not part of NATO

US & NATO allies see Russia's invasion as a threat to European security