I. Read the text to get the general understanding of it. In 1550, Ivan announced a reformed code of laws and a new system for justice

In 1550, Ivan announced a reformed code of laws and a new system for justice. Criminal acts now were clearly defined, and punishments were prescribed for each. In addition, judges who were appointed by Moscow, would share their benches with representatives elected by local populations, in an effort to curb the practice of corrupt judges that sold justice to those who could afford it. The new code replaced long-standing customs that had operated to the advantage of local princes and noblemen. Now magistrates would, at least in theory, enforce the laws equally, without discrimination against persons of low status.

The central Moscow government also became more professional through a division of labor responsibilities. The Foreign Office was established, as was the Bureau of Criminal Affairs, the Land Office, and the Office of Military Affairs. Under Ivan’s firm hand, the government of Russia was quickly becoming a modern, stable one.

In June 1552 Ivan personally led his newly formed army of 100,000 troops down the Volga toward Kazan, the fortified capital of khanate. Ivan besieged the Tartar stronghold in late August and waited for its surrender. He had come equipped with more than 150 heavy artillery pieces and a group of German military engineers who were experienced in reducing large fortifications. On October 11, these engineers successfully mined the fortifications, which soon brought victory to Ivan. Two years later, in 1554, a second Tartar stronghold, Astrakhan, yielded to another Russian army.

Ivan's victories over Kazan and Astrakhan extended the Russian nation to the Caspian Sea in the south and to the Ural Mountains in the east, adding nearly 1,000,000 square kilometers to Ivan’s realm.

Looking to further expand his empire, Ivan targeted Livonia, a small, Baltic-coast nation. Ivan started this conquest in January 1558. By May, Narva and its Baltic seaport were secured and Ivan promptly set about expanding the seaport’s harbor to welcome large trading ships from Europe. With the Livonian monopoly on trade between Russia and Western Europe broken, merchants from as far away as Holland and France rushed to Narva to negotiate trade agreements with the Russians.

While Ivan continued the war over Livonia, a tragedy of enormous consequences for all of Russia took place in Moscow. Ivan’s much-loved wife Anastasia withered away due to a lingering illness in the summer of 1560. Ivan became very distraught after Anastasia’s death. Angry and depressed, his old cruelty resurfaced. Many people believe that the death of Anastasia caused Ivan to become insane. Ivan raged against the boyars whom he suspected of having poisoned Anastasia. Ivan killed all these boyars in a wave of tortures and executions. Ivan set up the Oprichnina, which became a separate police state within Russia. In 1570, on the basis of unproven accusations of treason, Ivan massacred the 60,000 citizens of Novgorod with his Oprichniki. In the same year, there were mass public executions in Moscow. Ivan grew increasingly vicious and blood thirsty. So much that on November 19, 1581 he struck his eldest son and killed him in a violent fit of rage. This shocked him so deeply that he never slept properly again, but roamed the palace at night in terrible remorse.

Ivan left behind a joyless Russia on March 18, 1584, when he died suddenly while preparing for a game of chess. The years before Anastasia died had been a time of enlightenment for Russia. Ivan had pursued relations with England, opened the port of Archangel to British merchant ships, and started trading directly with Western Europe, despite strong opposition from Sweden, Denmark, and Lithuania, which together controlled the Baltic Sea. He brought Moscow a wide variety of artisans to teach his people the new trades that were essential for success in the modern world (coopering, shipbuilding, and typography among others), and he employed numerous foreign teachers of various academic subjects. He instituted sweeping reforms in the Church and the army, as well as in the way the country was governed. He ended forever the threat from the Tartar, and expanded Russia’s territories. But, once Anastasia had died he ruled without mercy. It is in this period that the nickname “the Terrible” aptly applies.

[http://academic.mu.edu/meissnerd/ivan-terrible.htm]

II. Find the nouns that are used in the text with the following verbs:

1) prescribe

2) define

3) appoint

4) elect

5) enforce

6) besiege

7) start

8) secure

9) negotiate

10) pursue

11) institute

 

III. Give synonyms to or explain the following notions and quote the sentences where they are used:

Discrimination; long-standing customs; division of labor responsibilities; stronghold; monopoly on trade; to wither away; distraught; to massacre; unproven accusations; enlightenment; artisan; sweeping reforms.

IV. Write out from the text the names of different state and local establishments, define their functions using your own knowledge; search for additional information, if necessary.

V. Discuss the following questions:

1. What changes were made by Ivan IV in the system of justice? How were laws supposed to be enforced equally?

2. What new official establishments were introduced in the government?

3. What factors contributed to Ivan’s victories over Kazan and Astrakhan? What did they result in?

4. What events contributed to the development of the trade with Holland and France?

5. What period of Ivan’s reign could be called the time of enlightenment for Russia? Why did this period end?

 

VI. Write out from the text all the words related to Ivan’s character and behaviour. Add to this list your own words that could describe his personality and actions.

VII. Work in pairs. Give the general characteristic of Ivan’s poliсies.