Russia's foreign policy in the 17th century: the main directions, objectives, results

In the history of our country XVII century is a very significant milestone, since this time there was a lot of events that have influenced the subsequent development of the state.Especially important was the Russian foreign policy in the 17th century, since at that time it was very difficult to fend off multiple enemies at the same time maintaining the strength to domestic work.

What determines the political attitude?

In general, the needs of the cultural, economic and military nature determined the subsequent development of our country in those centuries.Accordingly, the foreign policy of Russia in the 17th century was completely dependent on the tasks that confronted statesmen in those difficult times.

main tasks

First, it was necessary to immediately return all the lands that have been lost as a result of the Troubles.Secondly, before the rulers of the country were challenged to connect back all the territories that once were part of Kievan Rus yet.Of course, in many respects they are not guided by the ideas of the reunification of separated only once peoples, but also the desire to increase the proportion of arable land and the number of taxpayers.Simply put, foreign policy of Russia of the 17th century was aimed at restoring the country's integrity.

Smoot very hard impact on the country: the treasury was empty, many impoverished peasants so that they simply was not possible to take the tax.Obtaining new land, not plundered by the Poles, would not only restore the political prestige of Russia, but also to replenish its coffers.In general, it was the main Russian foreign policy in the 17th century.Table (10-class school has to know it perfectly), given later in this article, reflects the most global of its purpose.

Access to the sea

to implement them it was very important to have access to the Black and Baltic seas.Firstly, the presence of these pathways would allow no problem to strengthen economic ties with Europe, establishing not only the supply of rare goods and technology, literature and other things that would help close the gap in the country's industrial sector.

Finally, it was time to decide something with the Crimean khan: undignified major country while suffering from attacks of any "melkotravchatomu" allies of the Turkish sultan.However, do not forget the old army an introduction about the paper and ravines ... In this way we had plenty of difficulties.

eastwards

We should not forget also that the foreign policy of Russia in the 17th century largely pursued the goal of expanding to the East of the country for further development and exploitation of the land.

In particular, for export required a huge amount of sable furs, which enjoyed incredible demand in the world.The problem was only that in the European part of the country these valuable animals were long ago povybity.Finally, it is strongly required to reach the Pacific Ocean, and it will install a natural border.And further.The country lacked "violent heads", which was a pity to cut.It was decided the most active, but troubled people to send to Siberia.

This solves two problems at once: the center of the state got rid of "undesirable elements", and the border is under heavy guard.That's what was Russia's foreign policy in the 17th century.The table will show you the basic tasks that had to then decide.

difficult was the foreign policy of Russia in the 17th century.The table clearly shows that without wars can not do any one decade, the success of our state is accompanied by no means always.

decision which prevented the most important tasks?

main one was not even the activities of the "eternal friends" in the face of the UK and France, and its own technological backwardness.Europe in the next, the Thirty Years, War, managed to completely rethink the theory of weapons and organization of troops on the battlefield, as well as the tactics of their application.So, the main strike force was again the infantry, which since the end of the Roman Empire was at the slave roles.The means of strengthening it began to develop intensively in the time regimental artillery.

backwardness in military

And here stalled Russia's foreign policy in the 17th century.Table (7th grade should know its main provisions) that are not able to show, but the army was extremely weak.The fact is that in our country the backbone of the armed forces until now was aristocratic cavalry.To deal with the remnants of once mighty Horde it could successfully, but at a meeting with the army the same France it would probably have been waiting for a serious loss.

Thus, Russia's foreign policy in the 17th century (a brief expounding) was mainly aimed at the establishment of normal military trade and administrative and diplomatic apparatus.

on weapons issues

huge country is heavily dependent on imports of weapons.Backwardness in tactics and weapons planned to eliminate by intensive imports of weapons from European manufactures, as well as the involvement of the service officers.All this translates not only dependent on the major powers of the period, but also very expensive for the country.

Thus, Russia's foreign policy in the 17th century (the main directions of which we described) was based on a paradox: on the one hand, no one doubted the necessity of war with the Europeans.On the other - that they have to buy expensive weapons and ammunition that increased military and economic power of the states of the Old World, but greatly weakened Russia, already lifeless embarrassed.

So, on the eve of the table referred to in Russian-Polish war had to spend a lot of gold.In the Netherlands and Sweden it was purchased at least 40 thousand muskets and 20 thousand pounds of gunpowder choice.This amount is not less than 2/3 of the total number of infantry weapons.At the same time continues to increase tension on the part of Sweden, which not only covers the access to the Baltic Sea, but also continues to lay claim to a large part of Russian lands.

relation to the country in the international arena

very badly affected by the fact that the West is Russia perceived only as an extremely backward, "barbarous" country, whose territory is subject to mandatory expansion, and the population was planned in part to assimilate.For the rest, all was prepared for the sad fate of the Indians of North America.

thus more important than ever there was a strong Russian foreign policy in the 17th century.The main objectives were aimed at her "Cutting through the window", which subsequently did Peter.The economic and military backwardness were largely due to the banal territorial exclusion as well as the establishment of normal relations was powerful Turkish-Polish-Swedish barrier.

Do not forget about the constant intrigues of the English merchants, who did not relish get a powerful competitor in commercial matters.All these contradictions can be resolved, but only to create a powerful army and breaking the economic and trade blockade.

Here's the basic foreign policy of Russia in the 17th century.Briefly, the most important task lay in the West, where everything is clearly felt the threat of war.

War on westbound

All this has led to the fact that in 1632, immediately after the death of Sigismund III, in the Commonwealth war started for the revision Deulino agreements.Instigator made our country.Unfortunately, the forces were obviously unequal.In general, Russia's foreign policy in the 17th century (a summary of which we have already talked about) largely failed because of the extreme imperfection of the administrative, military and diplomatic corps.

give the most vivid and regrettable example.Due to the extremely bad diplomacy Polish King Vladislav managed to establish contact with the Crimean Tatars.The slowness of the Russian army, which was headed by M. Shein, consisted of servicemen people.When they learned that the Tatars began regular forays into the country, they simply left the army, leaving to the protection of their own estates.It all ended with the signing Polyanovsky world.

Poland had to go back all the conquered lands in the beginning of the war, but the King Vladislav completely renounces any claim to the Russian throne, and the earth.The defeat of the governor declared guilty Shein M. and A. Izmailov, subsequently beheaded.Thus, Russia's foreign policy in the 17th century formed is not particularly good way for us.

territory of present-day Ukraine

At the same time broke the national liberation movement in the territory of present-day Ukraine.In 1648, in those parts another uprising broke out, which was caused by intolerable conditions for the Orthodox population, who live on the territory of the Commonwealth.

culprits were Zaporozhye Cossacks.In general, they were very good life: beyond protecting Poland from the raids of the same Crimean Tatars, they received a decent reward (not counting the spoils of war).But the Poles are not very happy with the fact that the Cossacks took into their ranks any fugitive slave, and never betrayed his back.It began methodically "crackdown" cut Cossack freemen.Headed a rebellion broke out immediately Bohdan Khmelnytsky.

successes and failures of the rebels

In December 1648 his troops occupied Kiev.In August of the following year it signed a settlement agreement.These included an increase in the number of "official" of the Cossacks, to which the authorities had no complaints, but on the list of achievements ended.

Khmelnitsky understood that without outside help right the wrong he did not succeed.The only candidate for the alliance was Russia, but its power is not too eager to fight, as time was needed to complete reform of the army.Meanwhile, the Poles did not tolerate the shameful peace;already in 1653 the rebels were under threat of extinction.

Russia could not let that happen.In December 1653 an agreement was concluded on the reunification of the Ukrainian lands from Russia.Of course, right after that country was dragged into a new war, but the results were much better than the old.

This is what characterized the foreign policy of Russia in the 17th century.The main directions, objectives, results it can be found in this article.