Tsardom of Russia and the Romanov Dynasty

End of the Rurik Dynasty and Beginning of the Romanov Dynasty

• 1598: Death of Feodor I; end of Rurik dynasty.
• Period of Troubles with many pretenders to the throne.
• Interventions: Sweden and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth support different candidates.
• Polish prince briefly becomes Tsar but is soon ousted.
• 1613: Michael Romanov elected Tsar, starting a new dynasty.

Challenges and Objectives of Michael Romanov

• Inherits a devastated, war-torn country.
• Objectives: Ensure peace and stabilize finances.
• Negotiates truces with Sweden and Poland, losing Baltic territories.
• Expansion eastward by Cossacks; contact with China established.

Reforms under Tsar Alexis

• Increased taxes lead to revolts.
• Reinforces serfdom to stabilize the economy.
• Peasants legally tied to their lords, who collect taxes.

Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Revolts

• Attempt to convert Orthodox lands to Catholicism incites revolt.
• Orthodox Church schism due to reforms by Patriarch Nikon.
• Russia supports Cossack revolt, leading to war with Poland.
• Outcome: Russia gains Little Russia.

Peter the Great’s Westernization

• Interested in Western Europe; modernizes Russian military and navy.
• 1703: Founding of St. Petersburg.
• Conflict with Sweden; gains Baltic sea access.

Expansion under Catherine the Great

• Strengthens influence in Poland, provokes Ottoman War.
• Gains Crimea and establishes ports of Sevastopol and Odessa.
• 1796: Dies after significant territorial expansion and influence.

Napoleonic Wars and Alexander I

• Participates in coalition against Napoleon.
• 1812: Napoleon invades Russia but retreats after severe losses.
• Alexander I helps defeat Napoleon, gains influence in Europe.
• Establishes Holy Alliance.

Internal Reforms and Challenges

• Alexander II: Abolishes serfdom; modernizes Russia's military and infrastructure.
• Assassinated in 1881 after reforms cause unrest.
• Rise of revolutionary movements.

Russo-Japanese War and Subsequent Revolution

• 1904: Russia defeated by Japan; internal revolution begins.
• Establishment of State Duma, weakening autocracy.

World War I and the Fall of the Romanovs

• Russia joins the Triple Entente.
• 1917: Nicholas II abdicates following unrest and strikes.
• Provisional government fails; Bolsheviks seize power.

Bolshevik Revolution

• Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, sign a ceasefire with Germany.

These notes cover key events, figures, and transformations in Russia from the end of the Rurik dynasty to the Bolshevik Revolution, highlighting changes in leadership, territorial expansions, military conflicts, internal reforms, and social upheavals.