Mongol Influence in Russia
Due to Mongol influence, Russia existed in isolation, however, tsars such as Peter and
Catherine the Great tried various things in an effort to westernize the isolated territory. By late
17th century, Russia experienced a great internal change. Peter and his successors used
westernization to bolster Russia's expansionist empire. Westernization had a great impact on
Russia and its development. Prior to Peter's attempt for westernization, he and his predecessors extended tsarist
policies of control and the expansion of Russian territory. Since the incursion of the Mongols,
Russia never recovered from the impact of isolation. As time went on, Russia gradually began to
recover. Under Ivan III, (Ivan the Great,) Russia succeeded Byzantium or "third Rome." Ivan the
IV, (Ivan the Terrible,) placed great emphasis on controlling the tsarist autocracy, killing many
boyars who suspected conspiracy. Expansion continued, offering tsars a new way to reward
nobles (boyars) and bureaucrats by giving them estates in new territories. This practice provided
new agricultural areas and sources of labor; Russia used slaves for certain kinds of production
work in the 18th century. Along with expansion and enforcement of tsarist primacy, the early tsars
added another element to their overall approach; carefully managed contacts with the western
Europe. The tsars realized that Russia's cultural and economic subordination to the Mongols had
put them at a commercial and cultural disadvantage.
By the end of the 17th century, Russia had become one of the great land empires, but it
remained unusually agricultural by the standards of the West and the great Asian civilizations.
Come the reign of Peter I, he built many new framework. He added a more definite interest in
changing selected aspects of Russian economy and culture by imitating Western forms. Overall,
Peter concentrated on improvements in political
Catherine the Great tried various things in an effort to westernize the isolated territory. By late
17th century, Russia experienced a great internal change. Peter and his successors used
westernization to bolster Russia's expansionist empire. Westernization had a great impact on
Russia and its development. Prior to Peter's attempt for westernization, he and his predecessors extended tsarist
policies of control and the expansion of Russian territory. Since the incursion of the Mongols,
Russia never recovered from the impact of isolation. As time went on, Russia gradually began to
recover. Under Ivan III, (Ivan the Great,) Russia succeeded Byzantium or "third Rome." Ivan the
IV, (Ivan the Terrible,) placed great emphasis on controlling the tsarist autocracy, killing many
boyars who suspected conspiracy. Expansion continued, offering tsars a new way to reward
nobles (boyars) and bureaucrats by giving them estates in new territories. This practice provided
new agricultural areas and sources of labor; Russia used slaves for certain kinds of production
work in the 18th century. Along with expansion and enforcement of tsarist primacy, the early tsars
added another element to their overall approach; carefully managed contacts with the western
Europe. The tsars realized that Russia's cultural and economic subordination to the Mongols had
put them at a commercial and cultural disadvantage.
By the end of the 17th century, Russia had become one of the great land empires, but it
remained unusually agricultural by the standards of the West and the great Asian civilizations.
Come the reign of Peter I, he built many new framework. He added a more definite interest in
changing selected aspects of Russian economy and culture by imitating Western forms. Overall,
Peter concentrated on improvements in political