Mini Extended Essay Introduction To many scholars and historians, Tsar Peter Alexeyevich, or Peter the Great, is considered one of the most influential European Leaders of the modern world. During his time as emperor of the Russian Empire, he traveled all over Europe, seeking new ideas and innovations that would help to modernize Russia. His travels let him gain a plethora of knowledge about the European culture, and he sought to implement this new knowledge in Russia. Once he returned to Russia, he revolutionized it into a European superpower, implementing many social, economic, and political domestic reforms as well as revolutionizing Russia’s foreign policy; his new innovations even helped overcome the Swedish Empire, a major European power at that time, in the Great Northern War. Throughout the course of his governance over the Russian Empire, Peter the Great established many new domestic and foreign policies which benefited both internal welfare and international relations for Russia. So, to what extent did Peter the Great affect the social structure and political growth of the Russian Empire? Foreign Affairs Peter the Great revolutionized the Russian Empire into a European Superpower during his reign by defeating the Swedish Empire in the Great Northern War and modernizing Russian relations with the rest of Europe. Peter the Great became Tsar of Russia after the death of his brother Ivan. He inherited a nation that was severely underdeveloped compared to European countries, which were prospering both culturally and economically, as the Renaissance and the Reformation had just occurred in Europe (“Bio.com”). At first, he did not seek to improve conditions in Russia; he sought to expand its borders by taking over the Bl... ... middle of paper ... ...>. Nisbet, Bain, R. "Peter the Great." Cambridge Modern History. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. . "Prominent Russians: Peter the Great." Russiapedia: The Romanov Dynasty Prominent Russians. RT- Russia Today, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2014. . "Peter the Great Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. . Raeff, Marc, ed. Peter the Great, Reformer or Revolutionary? Boston: D. C. Heath, 1963. Questia School. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. . "The Battle of Narva." History Today. N.p., Nov. 2000. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. .
Peter the Great was trying ultimately to make the Russian Empire more Europeanized or Westernized. He wanted to protect and enhance the vulnerable Russian Empire. Peter the Great saw that other European countries are colonizing in other regions like the New World, Asia, and Africa. Peter saw this as a threat and didn’t want for the Europeans to conquer Russia. Through decrees to shave and provisions on dress, he was trying to make them European. He also wanted to make military and economic reforms that could help the empire itself. If they built factories, they didn’t need to get supplies from Europe.
Absolutism was at its most popular in the 17th century. Monarchs Louis XIV who ruled France from 1643 to 1715, and Peter the Great who ruled Russia from 1682 to 1725 both secured absolute power in their kingdom. Peter the Great, however, managed to accomplish more during his reign than Louis XIV with politics and military. Peter was able to tax his nobles but still keep their loyalty and also change how his army was run by using Prussian organization and discipline.
Acton, John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton. Essays on freedom and power. Boston: Beacon Press, 1948. Print.
Observing that European technological superiority allowed it to enjoy extraordinary benefits, he adopted many European practices to assert his own dominance and increase Russia’s protection against its adversaries. In doing this, Peter the Great formed himself a lasting legacy. Although Peter the Great originally mimicked Louis XIV in his staunch practice of absolutism, he ultimately surpassed Louis XIV in his goal of supremacy. Peter replaced the previous head of the Orthodox Church, and had both religious and earthly supremacy. Thus, Peter achieved something that Louis could never manage: a control of both church and state. Outside of Russia’s borders, Peter succeeded in his endeavors to a much greater extent than Louis XIV. The Great Northern War against Sweden effectively gave Russia access to a warm water port: Saint Petersburg, where Peter created his own Versailles, the Winter Palace, that fulfilled goals similar to those of Louis. Thus, where Louis fell, Peter
Peter the Great was mainly described as a man who was powerful and violent. In some of the accounts he was described very differently. Bishop Burnet wrote from his experience with Peter, because he had been in the company of him. He experienced Peter’s violent and non–violent side. He also stated that Peter was a very smart man even though he did not show it much. In the writing from Von Korb he tells of the time of the Streltsi revolt. He did not have much of a personal experience with Peter the Great. Based on the writing from Korb he was basically des...
In conclusion, though the goals and outcomes were different in many ways, Louis XIV and Peter the Great both sought to do great things. Louis XIV died unpopular in his country, having had the spotlight on him for years in Europe. He hadn’t made the huge leaps that he had hoped as far as land goes, but he had made small gains of land, and had gained the crown for his grandson, Phillip V of Spain. He also built fortresses around the country and reshaped the French economy. Peter the Great succeeded in modernizing and westernizing Russia. By his death, Russia was considered much more of a leading state in Europe than ever before. He modernized the army, created a navy, and succeeded in centralizing the government.
Peter the Great had many goals during the time he ruled. One of his biggest goals was to modernize and westernize Russia. The main reason Peter the Great modernized Russia was because he did not want the country he ruled to be left vulnerable to expansionist powers in Europe. The powers were constantly at war, fighting to take over each other’...
Peter the Great aimed to make Russian military power competitive with European military rivals. He believed that a strong navy is a crucial step toward the
Peter the Great is described as an absolute monarch because during his reign he has strengthened both the central government and reduced the power of the nobility. As a ruler he rose to power and shaped Russia into an active European political power. He created a Senate to administer the state and divided Russia into different provinces so it would be more effective. This guy is busy and productive, when does he sleep?
Peter the Great was born in Moscow and grew up educated by tutors from Western Europe which helped shape his views during his rule. Peter came to power in 1682, previous to his rule, Russia was in a poor condition. Previous to Peter’s reign
- Catherine’s greatest accomplishment as an absolute monarch was expanding the western and southern sides of the Russian Empire. As Catherine started her reign, she immediately followed in the footsteps of Peter the Great, who tried to gain full access of the Black Sea. Catherine’s army engaged in the first Russo-Turkish battle from 1768 to 1774. After six years of fighting, Catherine’s great army and military tactics overcome the Turkish armed force and gained access to the Black Sea. This expanded the Russian Empire and allowed Russians to sail through Ottoman controlled straits leading to from the Black Sea. Catherine also expanded the Russian Empire in the second Russo-Turkish War. The Ottoman Empire planned to regain their lost lands that Catherine controlled. However, Catherine’s army succeeded and gained even more land of the Ottoman Empire. The Yedisan region and the Crimea were added to the growing empire. Later Russia also gained part of Poland in a partition between Prussia, Austria, and Russia. Catherine’s empire became one of the strongest territories because of the land annexed through its opponents defeat. Russia was recognized throughout Europe and many countries feared the powerful, international empire. Russia gained more trade as Catherine’s army expanded its borders. Catherine the Great was ultimately known for expanding the Russian Empire and her reign was called Russia’s golden age.
Having more than one ruler governing over a nation has strengthened many nations over the course of history. Absolutism kept from the nation becoming stronger because of the power going to one specific leaders head. Peter the Great did make great changes for Russia, while focusing on scientific and technological advancements. He also made industry and commerce increased bringing population to the country. However, even with his good intentions, he began to rule unfairly by not sharing
Peter The Great was the leader of Russia in the late 1600’s and early 1700’s. He did many good things and some bad things for Russia. Before Peter came into power, Russia was still in the Middle Ages. Peter helped launch Russia into the modern age by educating his people, modernizing technology and making new military advances. Some people may make the argument that Peter was a bad leader because of how he taxed his people heavily in order to fund these new advancements.
Eight million people lived in Russia. Ninety-five percent of all of the population consisted of serfs, the merchants, nobles, and elite only populated five percent of Russia. The elite, like the serfs, were not very well educated at all. Timmerman, a knowledgeable man from Germany, taught and showed Peter all of the nautical instruments need to navigate a ship. Peter became very interested in nautical things. Peter soon left Russia and plundered Europe for knowledge, inventions, and great minds to bring back to Russia. His voyage ended in the rich and luxurious city of Amsterdam. Peter began to study Holland’s ships and navy, and hired ship builders to go home with him, and help him prepare a sea power. Peter, wanting to really learn how to build a ship, signed on as a carpenter to hide his true identity, because he wanted to work without that being a distraction. After 4 months, Peter had built a ship of his own, called the “Peter and Mary.” Soon enough, he sailed out to distant countries to borrow plans for astronomical tools, mints, cannons, and weapons. During his voyage, Peter’s palace guards had started a revolt in Moscow. Peter rushed back and saw 1800 servants in chains. He knew there was more behind this revolt than just bad ruling. He had every one of his guards interrogated 6 days a week, but found no new evidence. In the end, Peter had hung 1200 men.
Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov, better known as Peter the Great, was Tsar of Russia from 1682-1725. He is best known for his efforts to reform Russia in order to make it a stable and strong nation. Voltaire once proclaimed, “At last Peter was born, and Russia was created. Before the reign of Peter the Great, Russia was behind most European countries in many aspects. Russia did not make good use of the bodies of water surrounding it because the Russians didn’t trade with other countries and they didn’t even have a single ship. Also the agriculture and manufacturing industries were ignored. When Peter the Great came into power, he realized that Russia had many things to improve on. Without reforms, Russia would not move forward, but rather backwards and would be susceptive to attack from foreign nations. Peter the Great’s plan was to modernize Russia so the life of the citizens would be improved and to remove Russia’s inability to defend itself. Peter the Great was strongly influenced by other European countries, as this was seen in many of his reforms. Peter the Great made Russia more modern by reforming the military, changing the way people were educated, and improving the economy of Russia.