Ivan IV of Russia

How Western was Russia The question is not is not whether Russia was a western nation, it is to how Western was Russia? This question has no set answer, it changes over time. Often times, throughout history, situations change, often times change is made in order to perfect imperfect systems. Russia is no different in this regard. Russia was less Westernized under the Mongols and the rule of the Ivan’s up through Ivan IV, but became more westernized under the rule of Peter I. Russia under the rule

the famous Red Square in Moscow, Russia. The cathedral is easily identifiable by its ten distinct domes each of diverse color, shape, and size (“Moscow’s Red Square”). The unusual and vivid multicolored exterior of St. Basil’s Cathedral offers visitors a view of past Russian architecture that has endured through the centuries. The Russian Orthodox Church was built around 1552 to 1561 in Moscow, Russia by the command of Tsar Ivan IV known as Ivan the Terrible. Ivan ordered the creation of the Cathedral

which resulted in dangerous and uncontrolled riots. Many countries began to adopt absolutism as a political system that could be a solution to these issues. As absolutism became a solution to these issues and gained popularity in France, Prussia, and Russia,

government became more centralized as well as other smaller nations losing their autonomy. A continuity of culture in Eastern Europe is religious belief, in which Orthodox Christianity remained predominant and under the state’s control. Ivan III of Russia married the niece of the last Byzantine emperor, gaining control over the Christian Orthodox church. Christian Orthodox faith was used to his advantage for support of his campaigns. Later on, Alexis Romanov also gained new powers over the Eastern

taxes, laws and every aspect of society. An absolute monarch can also believe in divine right. This is the belief that God gave power to the monarchs to be a God on earth. An example of these types of rulers are Louis XIV, who ruled for 72 years, Ivan the Terrible who ruled from 1530 to 1584, and Peter the Great who ruled from 1682 to 1725. Peter the Great was the most significant absolutist ruler because of all the great things he did for the poor people and his effort into the modernization of

history behind it is filled with passion, love, and loyalty to the country of Russia. Today the people of Russia band together to celebrate their rich past, bright future, and unity. Upon this glorious holiday, one may observe hundreds of multicolored flowers strewn across the monuments of national heroes, Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky. To those that don’t know and may ask what is this wondrous holiday, it is Russia Day of Unity. This day celebrates the time when two national heroes, Kuzma Minin

Until the end of the 15th century, the vast territories to the west of the Ural Mountains, what is now known as the European part of Russia, were far from a single united state. Rather, it was a patchwork of small principalities ruled by different princes, united in their faith under the Russian Orthodox Church, but otherwise in fierce competition between themselves. The situation was complicated further by the Mongol overlords, requiring regular tributes ever since they conquered most of the Russian

absolutism brought a new era of social and cultural expectations that drastically altered the life and society of Russia until the twentieth century. The impact the evolution of absolutism had on Russian life cannot be understated nor can it be overlooked. Therefore, it is important for us to look at three key defining eras during which absolutism was strongest in Russia: the Mongols, Ivan IV, and Peter the Great. These three rulers helped to shape much of what would be defined as the Russian absolutism

have believed in peace, many more have felt like it was important to use excessive force to control their citizens. Several leaders that have a part to play in the history of Russia are Ivan IV Vasilyevich (the Terrible) Grigori Rasputin, and Joseph Stalin. Ivan the Terrible (he was rightly named) was the first Tsar of Russia and enjoyed listening to symphonies of screams while inhaling the scent of burning flesh and drying blood. The people living around Ivan’s palace were the ones that were most

The kingdoms of France, Russia and Brandenburg-Prussia are ample evidence to prove that absolutism worked and was a commonality compared to constitutionalism. This issue then falls to whether the differences or the similarities of these kingdoms are more important in European and World History. The following will provide an argument to support that the similarities of the kingdoms should be more heavily stressed. France was set up for absolute monarchy by King Henry IV. Henry’s ambitions neutralized