Peter The Great 1682-1725

Revisions Mr. Harvie

Brief Backfill• Slavs date back as far as 1500BC• Vikings 9th Century Olag moves HQ to Kiev 1882

Commercial Treaty with Byzantine Empire• 980 Vladimir ‘prince of Russia’ – Greek Orthodox• 1237 – 1395 The Golden Horde• Nevsky grand Prince of Vladimir (Khan’s choice).• Ivan the III 1462-1505 free state.• 15th Century the Third Rome.• 1547 -1584 Ivan the Terrible First Tsar! Khanate

conquered.

Continued

• Livonian War 1558 to 1583 Sweden and Poland less successful and very costly.

• 1613 -1676 Romanov Tsars expansion to the east.

Expansion

Continued

Peter I crowned czar. Became known as Peter the Great for his efforts to transform Russia into a modern state.

• Early Rule

• 1682, Peter became czar while a child; sister ruled in his place

• Age 17, removed sister from throne, took power for himself

– Tall, strong man– Had strong personality,

boundless energy

• One of first acts, stormed Azov, Black Sea port held by Turks

• Building a Navy

• Attack disaster, but inspired Peter to build navy

• Labored side-by-side with thousands of carpenters

• Built hundreds of ships

• New navy took up Azov campaign

• Turks surrendered

Westernization• Peter realized country needed to modernize to catch up with rest of

Europe• Wanted westernization; to bring elements of Western culture to Russia• 1697, journeyed to western Europe to see what Russia needed to

modernize New Skills• Peter traveled in disguise, was sometimes recognized anyway• Learned hands-on skills, especially shipbuilding• Recruited European experts to bring skills to Russia

Rebellion • Trip cut short by rebellion of streltsy, military corps with political

influence• Thought streltsy wanted sister on throne; had members tortured,

executed• Disbanded streltsy, organized more modern army

Man of the people?

Reforms• In addition to modernizing army, Peter made many other reforms• Brought church under state control• Built up Russian industry• Started first newspaper in Russia• Sponsored new schools• Modernized calendar, promoted officials on service, not social status

• Westernization• Supported education; believed

Russians needed to learn more about science from West

• Wanted Russians to adopt European-style clothing, grooming

• Cut off boyars’ traditional long coats, beards to look European

• Modern Russia• Through these, other reforms

Peter tried to impose will on Russians

• Goal was to make Russia more modern country

• Not always successful, but considered founder of modern Russia for efforts

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