Chapter 18 Section 4

Rulers of Russia and Central Europe

 

Main Idea: The czars of Russia had a difficult time with Westernization and powerful families fought for power in Central Europe

 

Ivan IV

            -Young prince Ivan declares himself czar (1546)

                        -Before, country ruled powerful landowners and church officials

                        -Wanted to be absolute rule

            -Began as a reformer

                        -Created “general council”

                        -Military promoted on merit

                        -Created new legal code

                        -Expanded territory

            -Changed later onàIvan the Terrible (mental)

                        -Became paranoid of advisorsàexecuted them

                        -Thought wife (Anastasia) was murdered

                        -Created private army to punish anyone who opposed him

                        -Killed thousands of people in Novgorod (1565)

                                    -Thought they were wanting to succeed

                        -Killed his own son

                                    -No heiràChaos when Ivan dies (Time of Troubles)

                                                -Michael, relative of Ivan’s 1st wife takes over

 

Peter the Great

            -Became czar in 1682 (only a childàsister ruled)

            -Tall (6’6”), strong, good personality, lots of energy

            -Built navy

            -Wanted to see Western Europeàwent incognito

                        -Wanted to modernize Russiaàmake it more European

                                    -Army

                                    -Church brought under state control

                                    -Started first newspaper

                                    -Started new schools / supported education

                                    -Modernized calendar

                                    -Started civil service

            -Founded St. Petersburg

                        -Fought Sweden for land

                        -Warm-water port

 

Catherine the Great

            -Married grandson of Peter the Great

                        -Russians unhappy with grandson (Peter III)

                                    -Catherine seized powerànamed czarina

            -Reformer

                        -Legal system

                        -Education system

                        -Promoted science and the arts

            -Fought war with Poland, Ottoman empire (1760s)

                        -Russia wonàgot more land

            -Had internal revolt

                        -Reorganized local govt’s

 

Conflict in Central Europe

            -Central European monarchs never became absolute rulers

                        -Hapsburg family ruled much of the area

            -Thirty Years War (1618)

                        -Began when HRE ordered 2 Protestant churches be shut down in Prague

                                    -HRE officials tossed out of window

                        -Revolt spread (people didn’t want ruler controlling religion)

                                    -Spain, France, German princes, Denmark, Sweden all joined in

                        -Millions died

                        -Treaty of Westphalia

                                    -Toleration for Catholics and Protestants

                                    -Reduced power of HRE

            -Austria and Prussia had fight for power

                        -Austria = Hapsburg family

                        -Prussia = Hohenzollern family

                        -1740àHRE Charles VI diesàno heirs

                                    -Wanted Maria Teresa (Hapsburg) to take over

                                                -Frederick the Great seizes Austrian land

                                    -War of Austrian succession lasted for 8 years

                                                -Prussia gets to keep land it took earlier

                        -1756àSeven Years War (French and Indian war in colonies)

                                    -Prussia and England vs. Austria, Russia and France

                                                -Prussia and England win


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