Russia in the 16Th-17th Century the Most

¶ … Russia in the 16th-17th century

The most significant achievement and expansion of Russia occurred during the later 16th and 17th centuries. Prior to this however, during the early 1500s Russia was enjoying the last remnants of Renaissance culture. Some of the crowning achievements during this time, similar to those that occurred all over Europe in the age of art included the building of cathedrals and the printing of books. The second largest Cathedral in the Kremlin, the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel, was built during 1505-1508 (russianet). The cathedral was elaborately and elegantly decorated as was typical of the era, some describe it as similar to works created during the Italian Renaissance more so than the Russian (russianet). The Cathedral became the burial place of the rulers of Russia. Also occurring during this time, between 1517-1519 the first books in Russia were printed in Prague (russianet). In 1524 the Novodevichy Convent or as was known during the time the Convent of the Smolensk Icon of Our Lady was founded by Vasili III (russianet). The Convent was founded to remember and recognize the return of the city of Smolensk to Russia. The convent would later actually become a key fortress of defense for the southern defense belt of Russia (russianet).

During the 16th and the 17th centuries convents such as Novodevichy were frequented by noble and privileged women of society (russianet). It is in these convents that the wives of tsars often retreated, such as the wife of Fyodor and Godunov, mentioned later, retreated after their loss to mourn. The architecture of Novodevichy was representative of 16th and 17th century culture, an enormous five-domed structure with ornate design. The floor was constructed of cast iron plates (russianet).

During these centuries many other churches and noteworthy religious centers were constructed, though later during the 17th century the face of the Russian Orthodox church would take on much reform. Between 1529-1560 the following were constructed: Dyakovo, Ostrovo and Kolomenscoe (russianet). Also significant during the 16th and 17th centuries, 100+ books were translated into Russian. In 1547 twenty two Russian saints were canonized. All of this symbolizes a time of great respect during the early 16th century for literature, art, religion, sculpture and architecture, as was prevalent in most society's during their "Renaissance."

The time before the "growth" of the empire, the infamous time of Russian history's Ivan the terrible, was a time of beauty and art. Not too much significant happened politically. During the period between 1533-1538, Yelena Glinskaya served as regent, followed by a disputed regency from 1538-1547, which marked the onset of the rule of tsar Ivan the III.

16th and 17th Century Russia represented a time where an empire was built. Russia expanded a great deal during this century, in part due to the influences of Ivan the Terrible. The Imperial Period of Russia was in fact designated as the time between 1689-1917 (Beard). Ivan III, or Ivan the Terrible as many know him, ruled over Russia for a great many years, grandson of Ivan the Great who ruled previous (interknowledge, 1997). Ivan became the Grand Duke of Moscow in 1533 at the tender age of three (interknowledge, 1977). His mother ruled as regent, but she passed away when Ivan was only eight years old. While Ivan grew, many regents assisted in ruling of the land. However, in 1547 Ivan became tsar, and began his conquest over territory. Ivan reorganized the military and set about a campaign to conquest the Tatars, thus expanding Russian territory (interknowledge, 1997). Siberia was but one of many regions that Ivan sought to conquest and inhabit with Russian natives. During the mid 1500s, Moscow also became the capital of the Holy Russian Empire (russianet). It has been said that Ivan ruled with ruthlessness, thus the name "terrible." It has been reported that he "gouged out the eyes of the architects who built St. Basils" to prevent another building of such grandeur and beauty could be built again (russianet).

Ivan the Terrible succeeded in conquering all of the independent principalities of the area, thus making his power absolute, and sequestered the property of the ruling class nobles, granting land only to those that agreed to serve him (russianet). Ivan organized the peasants to work his lands, structured an army elite to govern his districts and established the "Oprichniki" or first police force to suppress uprisings from the nobles (russianet). However, in 1582 Russia lost its far northern territories, and subsequently access to the Baltic due to the war with Poland and Sweden (russianet). Ivan upon his death would leave Moscow in almost a state of political and economic ruin.

Ivan passed in 1584 and was succeeded by an individual named Fyodor, however it was his brother-in-law Godunov who actually took over administering and ruling a nation, as Fyodor was not inclined to do so (interknowledge, 1997). Fyodor died however in 1598, and Godunov did have claim to the throne having acted as regent to Fyodor. Godunov, former regent to Fyodor, was eventually elected as tsar by the Imperial Assembly, but his reign was not considered to be legitimate, especially considering he was responsible for the murder of Fyodor's younger brother, the respective heir to the throne (inter, 1997). Godunov's passing a small time later marked what was referred to in Russian history as a "Time of Troubles." The Time of Troubles was also indicative of famines and unrest among the peasants, nobility and Cossacks (russianet). The famines occurred primarily between the years of 1601-1603, a time also in which a bell tower was erected in memory of Ivan the Terrible (russianet).

In 1591 the youngest son of Ivan the Terrible died inexplicably (russianet). Ivan's son was named Dmitri, and the Poles tried to take advantage of his death claiming that he now lived in Poland and in fact was not dead. The Polish army, on this premise and backed by the Russian nobility advanced upon Moscow with their eye on the throne (russianet). However, the "false" Dmitri was murdered before he succeeded in obtaining the throne. Russian forces subsequently formed a united front, for fear of Polish invasion, and lead by the Cossacks defeated their would be enemy. Eventually a Romanov was named tsar, Michael, and the house of Romanov maintained control of the Russian throne for the next 300+ years (inter, 1997). Romanov was one of the nobles.

Though the Romanov's succeeded in centralizing power, they did little to assist Russia's economic endeavors and quest to keep up with modern technologies and movements. Peter the Great stepped into Russian history at the turn of the 17th century however to change this.