Russia 1450-1750
Summary
* Still under control of the Mongols * Isolated Russia from many of the advancements made in Western Europe during this time * Began a period of territorial expansion and government reform after freedom from Mongols * Embarked on an aggressive program of westernization in order to leap forward and make up for lagging * Forced imposition of European culture on the people of Russia would create an identity crisis for Russians that continues to this day Breaking the Mongols’ Grip
* Mongol occupation gave Russians some of the tools they would need for liberation and independence * Mongols set up Russia as a tributary feudal state and selected Moscow as the location from which tribute payments would be collected * Center of power shifted from Kiev to Moscow * The Orthodox Church followed this path as well and made Moscow the bureaucratic center of the Russian Orthodox Church * But more significantly, Mongols enlisted local Russian princes around Moscow to aid in the collection of tributary payments; this not only strengthened the Duchy of Moscow but gave them the administrative experience they would need for independence * Not surprisingly, the Duchy of Moscow would spearhead the struggle for independence against the Mongols * Between 1450 and 1480 Russia cast off Mongol rule and proceeded on a course of territorial expansion and political centralization. All Ivans Great and Terrible
* Ivan III - 1st significant leader * Married the niece of the last Byzantine emperor and claimed continuity with the Imperial Roman and Byzantine Empire * Proclaimed Moscow '3rd Rome' * Exploited close ties with the Orthodox Church to give legitimacy to his wars of territorial expansion * Increase power of Central Russian government and drew more land under his control * Ivan IV - Son of Ivan III * Cruel ruler known to execute his enemies * Defeated
* Still under control of the Mongols * Isolated Russia from many of the advancements made in Western Europe during this time * Began a period of territorial expansion and government reform after freedom from Mongols * Embarked on an aggressive program of westernization in order to leap forward and make up for lagging * Forced imposition of European culture on the people of Russia would create an identity crisis for Russians that continues to this day Breaking the Mongols’ Grip
* Mongol occupation gave Russians some of the tools they would need for liberation and independence * Mongols set up Russia as a tributary feudal state and selected Moscow as the location from which tribute payments would be collected * Center of power shifted from Kiev to Moscow * The Orthodox Church followed this path as well and made Moscow the bureaucratic center of the Russian Orthodox Church * But more significantly, Mongols enlisted local Russian princes around Moscow to aid in the collection of tributary payments; this not only strengthened the Duchy of Moscow but gave them the administrative experience they would need for independence * Not surprisingly, the Duchy of Moscow would spearhead the struggle for independence against the Mongols * Between 1450 and 1480 Russia cast off Mongol rule and proceeded on a course of territorial expansion and political centralization. All Ivans Great and Terrible
* Ivan III - 1st significant leader * Married the niece of the last Byzantine emperor and claimed continuity with the Imperial Roman and Byzantine Empire * Proclaimed Moscow '3rd Rome' * Exploited close ties with the Orthodox Church to give legitimacy to his wars of territorial expansion * Increase power of Central Russian government and drew more land under his control * Ivan IV - Son of Ivan III * Cruel ruler known to execute his enemies * Defeated