Lesson 1 - Russia Flashcards
Was Russia behind most defeats of the Ottoman Empire/
Yes
Since when had Russia been perusing an expansionist policy?
Since the reign of Peter the Great
What were the two key aims of Russian policy?
To gain access to warm waters: with ports on Baltic Sea blocked by ice for several months each year, Russia sought to expand southward and secure access to Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea for her merchant and military fleets. This meant bringing end to
Ottoman monopoly on Black Sea and to obtain rights to sail through Straits of Bosphorus and Dardanelles, both controlled by Ottoman Empire;
To secure possession of Constantinople: this aim was linked to previous one, since whoever controlled Constantinople held key to Straits, but there was more to it. Russia saw this as her historic mission, city being source and inspiration of her Orthodox faith
and culture. Actually, religion and culture justified in eyes of Saint Petersburg her interventions to protect Orthodox communities across Ottoman Empire.
What would be the problem of Russia taking over Constantinople?
The Sublime Porte would not surrender without a fight, and, even if the Ottoman Empire was no longer as powerful as during its heydays, it still represented significant force and was not without potential allies. Indeed, other Great Powers were highly unlikely to accept Russia’s acquisition of Constantinople. Advantage for Russia would be far too great and would clearly upset
balance of power.
What was Russia’s third aim, in the light of the fact that it might be difficult to take over Russia?
To create and control local client states in Balkans
What were the reasons for this third aim?
Firstly partly out of compassion for Orthodox and Slav communities of region (pan-Slav movement emerged in early 1800s): Russia denounced discriminations and abuses
they suffered from;
Secondly partly out of self-interest: Saint Petersburg used them to put pressure on Ottoman Empire (and on her other rival in region, Habsburg empire).
What were the problems of this third aim?
Russia did not hesitate to abandon her protégés whenever higher interests required her to do so.
Russian policy in region was complicated by fact that new
autonomous or independent entities, having interests of their own, were not always reliable.
This 3rd aim involved partition of Ottoman Empire, and so radical changes to balance of power in Europe, but was believed to be more acceptable by other powers.
Give two examples of how Russia faced opposition from the Great Powers
in 1853, to contain ambitions of Saint Petersburg, Britain and France, supported by Austria, joined forces with Ottoman Empire against Russia in Crimean War;
In 1878, Great Powers convened Congress of Berlin, which curtailed gains made by Russia and her Bulgarian ally at expense of Ottoman Empire.
