Name____________ Ms. Reyes/Ms.

Rust Mini-Lesson Five: Absolute Rulers in Russia AIM: How did Absolute Rulers come to power in Russia? DO NOW: What are the steps to answering a primary source document question: Write Your Steps Below: Write the Class Steps Below:

Date: Global 10

CLASSWORK: Complete the following reading. Answer the questions that follow.
Peter I of Russia came to the throne in 1682. Known as Peter the Great, he was a brilliant but highly controversial ruler. He made Russia into a great power although he brutally oppressed many of its people. While many countries in Western Europe had made economic, scientific, and cultural changes by the 17th century, Russiathe largest country at the timewas still a mostly illiterate, agricultural society, based on a feudal system of serfdom. It had no army, few schools, and almost no factories. Foreigners were kept out. Peter was determined to bring Russia up to date. In 1697 Peter traveled to Western Europe (France, England, Spain) in disguise (although at over 6 feet tall, he was rather recognizable). He worked as a carpenter in a Dutch shipyard, learned how to cobble shoes, engrave metal, and even to pull teeth. When Peter returned to Russia he mandated extensive reforms in religion, art, science, and government to westernize Russiaor make it more like Western Europe. He created a Russian navy and established schools, libraries, and museums. He encouraged the sons of nobles to study abroad and master reading, writing, arithmetic, and geography. Women were no longer to be kept secluded, but were to appear in public at social functions. Peter wanted to create a city that would showcase Russias power and progress. In 1703, work began on St. Petersburg (later called Petrograd and then Leningrad). Peter transformed what others viewed as a dismal marshland into a beautiful capital city, and called it the Window on the West. In 1721, after defeating the Swedish and winning Latvia and other territories, Peter proclaimed Russia an empire and took the title of Emperor of All Russia, Father of the Fatherland. Despite his reforms, Peter was also a ruthless dictator. It is estimated that 30,000 to 100,000 people died building St. Petersburg. When Russians hesitated to move to the new city, Peter ordered them to do so at their own expense. Peasants, most of whom were serfs working the land for the nobility, could not travel without permission, and could be drafted into the army at any moment. Hundreds of thousands of people left the country during Peters reign. Although Peter and his second wife, Catherine I, had 12 children, only two lived past the age of seven. In 1718, fearing his son Alexi was plotting against him, Peter disinherited and tortured his heir, who died in prison awaiting trial. After Peter died in 1725, it would be 37 years before Russia enjoyed another golden age under the reign of Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great. Catherine the Great was most known for expanding Russias borders to include warm-water ports. Having access to ports that did not freeze in the cold Russian winter allowed Russia to trade all year long! 1. 2. 3. 4. Describe Russia during the 17th centurybefore the leadership of Peter the Great. What reforms did Peter the Great make in Russia? What was his goal in making these reforms? Why was St. Petersburg called the Window on the West? What was the significance of Catherine the Great gaining access to warm-water ports?

INDEPENDENT WORK: Examine the following primary source documents and answer the questions to follow. DOCUMENT ONE: A year later, in January 1700, Peter transformed persuasion into decree [law]. With rolling drums in the streets and squares, it was proclaimed that all boyars [Russian nobles], government officials and men of property, both in Moscow and in the provinces, were to abandon their long robes and provide themselves with Hungarian or German-style caftans. The following year, a new decree commanded men to wear a waistcoat, breeches, gaiters, boots and a hat in the French or German style, and women to put on petticoats, skirts, bonnets and Western shoes. Later decrees prohibited the wearing of high Russian boots and long Russian knives. Models of the new approved costumes were hung at Moscows gates and in public places in the city for people to observe and copy. All who arrived at the gates in traditional dress except peasants were permitted to enter only after paying a fine. Subsequently, Peter instructed the guards at the city gates to force to their knees all visitors arriving in long, traditional coats and then to cut off the coats at the point where the lowered garment touched the ground. Many hundreds of coats were cut accordingly, says Perry, and being done with good humor it occasioned mirth [humor] among the people and soon broke the custom of wearing long coats, especially in places near Moscow and those towns wherever the Tsar came.. . . Source: Robert K. Massie, Peter the Great: His Life and World, Alfred A. Knopf DOCUMENT 2:

DOCUMENT 3: . . . Peters military reform would have remained an isolated incident in Russian military history had it not left a distinct and deep impression on the social and intellectual composition of all Russian society, and even influenced future political developments. The military reform itself made necessary other innovations, first to maintain the reorganised and expensive military forces, and then to ensure their permanency. The new recruiting methods, by spreading military obligations to classes hitherto [up to this time] exempt, and thus affecting all social classes, gave the new army a more varied composition, and completely altered existing social relationships. From the time that noblemens serfs and servants joined the new army as ordinary recruits instead of only as menials or valets [servants], the position of the nobility, which had been preponderant [dominant] in the old army, was completely changed. . . . Source: Vasili Klyuchevsky, translated by Liliana Archibald, Peter the Great, St. Martins Press

1. Based on document one, state one way Peter the Great tried to control the actions of his people. Was he successful? How? What are the strengths and weaknesses in Peters approach? 2. Based on the picture (document 2), what control did Peter try to wield over his nobles? 3. According to Vasili Klyuchevsky (document 3), what was one way Peter the Great attempted to control the Russian people? How did Peter change the military? Why do you think he made this change?

Objective Activities:
Option One: Decide whether Peter the Great is a hero or a villain, based on the reading and primary source documents. Complete the activity below Peter the Great: Hero? Include evidence from todays reading and documents: Peter the Great: Villian? Include evidence from todays reading and documents:

Argument: Using the evidence above, write an argument answering the question: Was Peter the Great a hero, or a villain?

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Option Two: Complete a bio poem of Peter the Great, using the following template:

Bio-Poem of Peter the Great