Russia is the New Preppy Girl

As Katie has said in class, Russia was big, cold, and angry. But they were angry for the right reason.
In the thirteenth century the mongols, lead by Chinggis Khan, invaded and ruled eastern Europe and Russia with his "Golden Horde".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Descent_from_Genghis_Khan

Khan did not kill but used the Russian princes as tools. The princes were a key instrument to collect the taxes and control the populace.
But one man thought he could overcome the mongols. That man was Ivan (III) the Great who broke the yoke of the mongols that suffocated Russia. He rose within the princes and took Russia back.
Ivan ruled until his son Ivan (IV) the TERRIBLE took over.

http://www.biography.com/people/ivan-the-terrible-9350679

Ivan reigned with an intent to control every aspect of his country. This resulted in a suppression of his subjects. Ivan made all his subjects depend upon himself for land and jobs. He created a service nobility where hereditary of private property was eradicated. Ivan also began a war with Poland-Lithuania, wasting much money. With the death of his beloved Anastasia Ivan struck even harder upon his country. Muscovite boyars were killed by mysterious men on horses and these purges continued for much of his reign. The Cossacks created an independence from Russia as a free group.
Ivan's death created chaos over Russia because his son was killed (by Ivan). This began the "Time of Troubles". Many reached for power until the nobility took control once more and placed Ivan's nephew Michael Romanov who reestablished the tsarist autocracy. This reign ushered the rule of Peter the Great.

http://www.biography.com/people/peter-the-great-9542228

Peter the Great was an angel compared to his distant relative Ivan the Terrible. Peter believed in a monarchical autocracy and improved his military in order to westernize Russia. Peter strongly believed in territorial expansion. To improve his military knowledge Peter traveled unofficially on a tour of western European capitals. This began Peter's (secret) alliance with Denmark. This became helpful when Russia began a war against Sweden.
Now why did Peter want land of Sweden so much? Sweden held St. Petersburg and ports to the Baltic Sea which appeared very similar to Versailles of France. This war was Russia's next step to becoming fully westernized. Peter was like a young teenage girl who was catching onto the "preppy" trend (like many girls in our school). Preppy clothing is expensive. And so is modernizing a country. One piece of the puzzle was bought at a time. Some land conquered here and better clothing for the people there. A long champ purse here and a monogrammed necklace there, Russia was slowly becoming modernized like the rest of Europe. With a growing military power and a new cultural change in fashion in Russia, Peter was becoming closer and closer to western countries.

http://vineyardvinesandglitteringeyes.tumblr.com/image/66464570593