PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Peter The Great (1682-1725)
Peter The Great born Pyotr Alekseyevich on June 9, 1672 in Moscow, Russia. Having ruled jointly with his brother Ivan V from 1682, when Ivan died in 1696, Peter was officially declared Sovereign of all Russia. During his reign Peter undertook extensive reforms in an attempt to modernize Russia. He published a book of manners, Culture, and clothes, brought women out of seclusion, and created a new taxation system (1724).
What was Peter the Great main political goal? How did he achieve them?
To modernize and Westernize Russia, and turn it into a major European power. He achieved this by building St. Petersburg; traveling widely in Western European to gain knowledge about modern things and practices ruthlessly attracting Western experts to Russia to help with the modernization process attacking heighbouring states so as to increase territory under his rule.
What was his religious policy?
The Church reform of Peter the Great introduced what some believe was a period of Caesaropapism in the history of the Russian Orthodox Church, when the church apparatus effectively became a department of state.
What was his foreign policy?
His foreign policy achievement was the acquisition of ports on the Baltic Sea. The net result of the Great Northern war against Sweden, this gave Russia power and influence in Western Europe for the first time.
Describe his daily life.
Peter the Great is one of the Prime examples of what the force of a single individual can achieve. He basically dragged, kicking, and screaming an entire society toward modernization of its military, government, behavior and even its appearance.
What was his legacy/accomplishments or failures?
He modernized the country, importing Western technology and ideas. He also turned into European power, by defeating Sweden (a local superpower of the day) in the Great Northern war. Finally he established royal authority over the church.
