Time of Troubles. Briefly about the causes and consequences of this difficult period for our country will be discussed below. Russia was economically and physically devastated, the people lost faith in the right outcome. Yet the problems were solved, and a new (and final) dynasty ascended the throne.
Time of Troubles: briefly about the reasons
So what were the main reasons? Probably, it is impossible not to recall the reign of Ivan the Terrible. The tyrant and despot, with his oprichnina and the unnecessary Livonian War, not only ruined the country, he brought social tension into it. This feeling was strengthened by the Ugli drama, when the heir to the throne was killed. But still there are other reasons, which undoubtedly follow from the above premises. Firstly, this is a crisis of the dynasty and power (still the same Uglich drama); secondly, these are exacerbations in the social sphere, which were caused by a new decree on a five-year search for fugitive peasants (the decree further strengthened the enslavement of this segment of the population); thirdly, the beginning of the Time of Troubles, the events of which will be briefly discussed below, was marked by famine; fourthly, Poland's great claims to the Russian throne. Thus, a large "bouquet" of factors in their totality gave a huge impetus, leading to a kind of collapse of the state.
Time of Troubles: briefly about the main events
As mentioned above, the beginning of the turmoil was accompanied by severe hunger. Oddly enough, the population blamed the then tsar, Boris Godunov, for this, who allegedly angered God with his "unnaturalness", that is, with the fact that the throne should not be in his hands. One way or another, but this ruler dies, and a difficult time begins for Russia. The country is going through several uprisings, after which False Dmitry the First appears. This figure will later become legendary. Surprisingly, the army of the monarch goes over to the side of this impostor, but this does not save him from death. Now comes the era of the boyar tsar. Under him, the civil war deepened in the country. Vasily Shuisky ruled during the uprising of Ivan Bolotnikov, during the open intervention, and also during the time of False Dmitry II. The Tushinsky thief, as he was called, was also popular among the people, but he did not receive proper support either: a conspiracy was organized, which resulted in the murder of an impostor. But the boyar tsar is also overthrown. Then comes the reign of the Seven Boyars. During this time, two people's militias save the capital of Russia and free it from the invaders. Later, there will be nationwide executions, as well as peace treaties with Poland and Sweden, which will secure the country's borders for some time.
The Time of Troubles, briefly described above, led to the fact that a new dynasty was established on the Russian throne, whose name is the Romanovs. Thanks to the Zemsky Sobor, a young tsar was chosen, who, through hard work, led the state to stability. Thus, the consequences of the Time of Troubles (you can read about them briefly in textbooks and manuals) became questions for the new government to think about.
