Peter I Vs Catherine II Essay

709 Words2 Pages

During the course of the eighteenth century, both Peter I and Catherine II rose to power as Russian tsars implementing their social and political power upon their kingdom and people. They aimed to westernize Eastern Europe, amassing great power and tracts of land, yet the tactical process in which they did so differed for each individual. Peter I and Catherine the Great made effective changes within the structures of military, nobility, education, and peasantry. The main driving force behind Peter I’s consolidation of power and reformation of Russia was the goal of ultimately enhancing military efficiency, allowing Russia to become a world power. Throughout his reign, war raged on and became a huge part of daily life. Compulsory lifetime military …show more content…

She found education as the main source towards the means of success and pursued a people filled with knowledge to progress their nation. Catherine established provincial elementary schools to train the children of the nobility and created teacher colleges to equip state with proper educators. In 1755, the University of Moscow was founded and held a number of European emigrants. Peter I also believed in educating and modernizing his people, so Russia would remain level, if not superior to other countries. He encouraged nobleman to experience Western Europe and learn about technology, economic theory, and political sciences. Peter established military schools and staffed them with foreigners, much like Catherine’s University of Moscow. A final topic focused and reformed by Catherine II and Peter I was the peasantry. During the time of both rulers, the lower classes did not benefit from their “reforms”. Peter I forced peasants to work on major projects, serve for life to others of higher class, or educate the sons of nobility. While Catherine II advocated the abolition of serfdom and cruel treatment of peasants, she failed to enhance the lives of the people and, instead, gave away thousands of state peasants who became serfs. Peter I and Catherine II provided Russia with both successes and failures, advancements and setbacks. The Russian tsars were very much involved in each area of political, social,

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