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[[File: Peter der-Grosse 1838.jpg |200px250px|thumbnail|left|Portrait of Peter the Great]]Peter the Great is one of the most important figures in Russian History. He was a larger -than -life figure , and he became a legend in his own lifetime. This Tsar more More than any other person , this Tsar changed the direction of Russian history , and many believe that he transformed the country and opened it up to the west. This article will discuss the background of Peter and to understand the Russia of his youth. It then discusses the main historical events of his reign and then to outline the main reforms introduced by the Tsar. The work will identify the areas of Russian life that changed forever and how Peter changed his vast domains, but it will argue that despite his reforms, he did not really open-up Russia to the west.

====Context==What was Russia like before Peter the Great?==Russia was a vast and sprawling country , but it was backward and traditional. Under the Romanov Dynasty, the country had expanded and had become a vast kingdom. While Europe was modernizing and developing new technologies and ideas, Russia remained insular. It had few urban centrescenters, no real infrastructure , and it was an agrarian society. Much of the country was ruled by Boyars or nobles who ruled vast estates almost as independent sovereigns. They regularly defied the Tsar’s orders , and they competed for influence over the Tsars. Russia , despite being rich in resources , was poor .<ref> Bushkovitch, Paul. Peter the Great: The Struggle for Power, 1671–1725 (Cambridge, Cambridge Press, 2001), p 6</ref>. This was because the government of the country was archaic. Much of the population were serfs, who were not legally free and they were effectively owned by the landowning class. Russia was still very much a feudal society even as Europe was about to enter the Enlightenment. The Russian Orthodox Church was also very powerful and its Patriarch was second in power only to the Tsar. Russia was encircled by many enemies, it was menaced by many powerful enemies including the Swedish and Ottoman Empires, who frequently threaten its territories <ref> Bushkovitch, p. 134</ref>.

====Peter This was because the Great====[[File: 640px-Lomonosov Poltava 1762 1764.jpg |400px|thumb|left|Mosaic government of Peter the Great at Poltava]]Peter country was born in Moscow, Russia in, 1672archaic. He was the 14th child Much of Tsar Alexis by his second wife. After the death of his fatherpopulation were serfs, he jointly ruled with his brother Ivan V from 1682. Ivan died in 1696 who were not legally free and then Peter ruled aloneeffectively owned by the landowning class. The Tsar Russia was still very much a giant of a man and feudal society even as Europe was unpredictable and prone about to violent outburstsenter the Enlightenment. Peter The Russian Orthodox Church was a curious man by nature and he wanted to make his kingdoms strong also mighty, and to protect it from its many enemies. To do this, he wanted to modernize his realm. He also wanted to strengthen his own position Patriarch was second in regard power only to the local aristocracyTsar. Many enemies encircled Russia. As a youthIt was menaced by many powerful enemies, he and his brother were dominated by including the Boyars Swedish and for the rest of his life, he distrusted them. PeterOttoman Empires, early in his reign to solidify his rule crushed a rebellion by soldiers in Moscow who supported his half-sister, he had her later sent to a nunneryfrequently threaten its territories. Peter in the first years of his reign had to suppress many rebellions, he remained a ruthless leader<ref> Anisimov, Evgenii V. The Reforms of Peter the Great: Progress Through Violence in Russia (London, Routledge, 2015)Bushkovitch, p. 187134</ref>.

This did not stop him from modernizing his country==Who was Peter the Great?==[[File: 640px-Lomonosov Poltava 1762 1764. The Tsar appointed many western advisors to his court and made western dress compulsory. jpg |250px|thumb|left|Mosaic of Peter later toured Europe, this was known as the Great Embassy and he learned much about the west and especially its new technologiesat Poltava]]Peter was born in Moscow, Russia in, 1672. When he returned he He was ever more determined to modernize the 14th child of Tsar Alexis by his countrysecond wife. Perhaps After the main motive that drove the Tsar to transform death of his father, he jointly ruled with his realm was to secure a military advantagebrother Ivan V from 1682. Ivan died in 1696, and then Peter ruled alone. The Tsar Peter was an expansionist a giant of a man and he wanted to secure warm water ports that would improve Russia’s access to the sea. He fought wars with Sweden was unpredictable and Turkey prone to secure these portsviolent outbursts. Peter seized territory in Estoniawas a curious man by nature, Latvia and Finland he wanted to make his kingdoms strong and land protect them from the Ottoman Empiretheir many enemies. By 1710 Russia had access To do this, he wanted to the Baltic and the Black Sea. In the Great Northern War, the Swedish King, Charles XII inflicted a humiliating defeat on Peter at the Battle of Narvamodernize his realm. The Swedish monarch who was a military genius defeated Poland and Denmark. A Swedish attempt He also wanted to march on Moscow was defeated but this did not deter strengthen his own position regarding the Swedeslocal aristocracy.

Charles invaded the UkraineAs a youth, in order to join up with rebellious Cossacks. Peter defeated the Swedish army he and his brother were dominated by purposely directing their troops to the city of PoltavaBoyars, during an unbearable Russian winter and there he surrounded them and annihilated Charles XII army. In for the aftermath rest of his victory over Swedenlife, Peter founded a city on the Baltic Coast and named it after himself Petersburg. This city was a symbol of the pivot that Russia was making under the Tsar and it became known as Russia’s ‘window on Europe’ <ref> Anisimov, phe distrusted them. 159</ref>. By this time Peter was absolute ruler of Russia and Early in 1721 he named himself as Emperor of All Russia, Great Father of the Fatherlandhis reign, and "the Great." Peter was solidified his rule crushed a reformer but he was like previous Tsars and he had a reputation for being bloodthirsty and cruelrebellion by Moscow's soldiers who supported his half-sister. He was even cruel to his own family. His had her later sent his first wife to a nunnery and had a son convicted of treason and was secretly executed in 1718. Peter the Great died on February 8, 1725, without nominating an heir. He is entombed in the Cathedral first years of Saints Peter and Paulhis reign, located in in Sthad to suppress many rebellions. PetersburgHe remained a ruthless leader. It is reported that when asked who should rule after his death, he whispered ‘the strongest’ <ref> MasieAnisimov, Evgenii V. The Reforms of Peter the Great: Progress Through Violence in Russia (London, Routledge, 2015), p. 214187</ref>. Stability was only restored after many years when his daughter Elizabeth became Tsarina.

====Peter the Great This did not stop him from modernizing his country. The Tsar appointed many western advisors to his court and the Serfs====Peter's reign saw even great controls imposed on the serfsmade western dress compulsory. Peter gave later toured Europe, which was known as the Boyers Great Embassy, and the landowning class more powers over the serfs. Peter passed laws that formalized the rights of the landowners he learned much about the serfs west and as a resultespecially its new technologies. When he returned, the unfree class became he was ever more dependent on their masters. Peter gave estate-owners new powers, including a requirement that no serf could leave determined to modernize his master’s lands without their written permissioncountry. He also placed new financial burdens on Perhaps the serfs. The tax system main motive that drove the Tsar to transform his realm was established by to secure a military advantage. Tsar Peter was one an expansionist, and he wanted to secure warm water ports that was very oppressive on the poor and would improve Russia’s access to the serfssea. The Tsar who owned extensive estates created a class of state-serfs or state-peasants. They had more freedoms than the average serf He fought wars with Sweden and they paid their rent and dues directly Turkey to the statesecure these ports. Despite his reputation as a modernizerPeter seized territory in Estonia, Latvia, the Tsar helped to strengthen the feudal order in his country and reinforced Finland and land from the institution of serfdom that had fall into abeyance in western Europe in the Middle Ages <ref>Anisimov, p 115</ref>Ottoman Empire.

By 1710 Russia had access to the Baltic and the Black Sea. In the Great Northern War, the Swedish King, Charles XII, inflicted a humiliating defeat on Peter at the Battle of Narva. The Swedish monarch, who was a military genius, defeated Poland and Denmark. A Swedish attempt to march on Moscow was defeated, but this did not deter the Swedes.  Charles invaded Ukraine to join up with rebellious Cossacks. Peter defeated the Swedish army by purposely directing their troops to the city of Poltava during an unbearable Russian winter, and there he surrounded them and annihilated Charles XII's army. In the aftermath of his victory over Sweden, Peter founded a city on the Baltic Coast and named it Petersburg. This city was a symbol of the pivot that Russia was making under the Tsar, and it became known as Russia’s ‘window on Europe.’<ref> Anisimov, p. 159</ref>  By this time, Peter was the absolute ruler of Russia, and in 1721 he named himself as Emperor of All Russia, Great Father of the Fatherland, and "the Great." Peter was a reformer, but he was like previous Tsars, and he had a reputation for being bloodthirsty and cruel. He was even cruel to his own family. He sent his first wife to a nunnery and had a son convicted of treason, and was secretly executed in 1718. Peter the Great died on February 8, 1725, without nominating an heir. He is entombed in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, located in St. Petersburg. It is reported that when asked who should rule after his death, he whispered ‘the strongest.’<ref> Masie, p. 214</ref> Stability was only restored after many years when his daughter Elizabeth became Tsarina. ==Why did Peter the Great give landowners more power over Serfs?==EconomyPeter's reign saw even great controls imposed on the serfs. Peter gave the Boyers and the landowning class more powers over the serfs. Peter passed laws that formalized the landowners' rights about the serfs, and as a result, the unfree class became ever more dependent on their masters. Peter gave estate-owners new powers, including requiring no serf to leave his master’s lands without their written permission. He also placed new financial burdens on the serfs.  The tax system that Peter established was very oppressive to the poor and the serfs. The Tsar who owned extensive estates created a class of state serfs or state peasants. They had more freedoms than the average serf, and they paid their rent and dues directly to the state. Despite his reputation as a modernizer, the Tsar helped to strengthen the feudal order in his country and reinforced the institution of serfdom that had a fall into abeyance in western Europe in the Middle Ages.<ref>Anisimov, p 115</ref> <dh-ad/> ==How did Peter the Great change the Russian Economy?==

The Great Northern War required unprecedented economic resources , and Peter needed new revenue streams to pay for his reforms and his wars. The government was in a dire financial position because of Peter’s lavish expenditure. To raise money, Peter monopolized the salt, vodka , and coal industries. Peter devised many ways to raise revenue , even a tax on beards that caused an uproar among traditional Russians.  The Tsar was persuaded that he needed to engage in major taxation reform. The solution was a new poll tax, that replaced all other taxes. The tax burden on the poorer orders increased dramatically. Peter introduced many new technologies into his country from the west , which helped boost the economy.  However, the country remained agrarian and private enterprise was stymied by the vast state monopolies and heavy taxation. Peter began industrialization in his country when he set up state workshops in the cities and towns. To boost, Russian manufacturers also pursued proto-protectionist trade policies, placing heavy tariffs on imports and trade to maintain a favorable environment for Russian-made goods. As a result, Peter did not really modernize the Russian economy as he tightly controlled it, and the country’s economy did not fundamentally change.<ref> Robert K. Massie, Peter the Great: His Life and World (London, Random House Publishing Group, 2012), p. 22</ref> ==Which Administrative Reforms did Peter the Great Institute?==Peter’s administrative reforms all sought to counter the influence of the Boyars. The Tsar hated the nobles and did not trust them, and many were opposed to his reforms as they helped threatened their privileges. Peter the Great established the Table of Ranks. This was a complex system of titles and offices. The table had twenty-four ranks. Each rank had its own level of service to the Tsar. The Table of Ranks' establishment was an attack on the Boyars' power and transformed Russian society.<ref> Masie, p. 113</ref> The reform abolished hereditary office holding and allowed new people to join the bureaucracy and state service.  Peter established a meritocracy in the bureaucracy and to a lesser extent in the military. A new generation of technocrats emerged that dominated Russia's civil service and who were, unlike the nobles, loyal to boost the economyTsar. The new civil service governed Russia for two centuries. The Communists only abolished the Table of Ranks in 1917. Peter also established a series of ministries for the first time based on the European model.

HoweverHe also set up a Senate which was designed to counsel the Tsar. The Tsar was an autocrat, and he gave sweeping powers to the country remained agrarian bureaucracy and private enterprise was stymied by the vast state monopolies and heavy taxationelite. Peter did begin He also ended the autonomy of the process Patriarch of industrialization in his country when he set up state-workshops in the cities and towns. To boost Russian manufacturers also pursued proto-protectionist trade policiesOrthodox Church, placing heavy tariffs on imports and trade to maintain he turned the Church into a favorable environment for Russian-made goodsdepartment of the state. Peter did not really modernize The Tsar totally dominated the Russian economy Church just as he tightly controlled it and the country’s economy, as a result, did not fundamentally changeall other aspects of Russian life.<ref> Robert K. Massie, Peter the Great: His Life and World (London, Random House Publishing Group, 2012), p. 22156</ref>Despite his reforms, Russia remained an autocracy, and Peter was an absolute ruler.

====Administrative Reforms==How did Peter the Great change the Russian Military and Navy?==Peter’s administrative reforms all sought to counter the influence of the Boyars. The Tsar hated the nobles and did not trust them and many were opposed to his reforms as they threatened their privileges. Russian army that Peter the Great established the Table of Ranks this inherited was a complex system of titles semi-professional militia that was recruited from villages and officesestates. The table had twenty-four rankssoldiers were poorly trained and armed. Each rank had its own level of service Peter knew that they were not able to match the TsarSwedes and Ottomans on the battlefield. The establishment of Tsar turned the Table of Ranks was an attack on the power of the Boyars and transformed Russian societymilitary into a professional force.<ref> MasieAnisimov, Evgenii V. "The Reforms of Peter the Great: Progress through coercion in Russia, trans." John T. Alexander (Armonk, NY: ME Sharpe, 1993), p. 113 186 </ref> The reform abolished hereditary office holding and allowed new people He appointed western officers to join the bureaucracy his army and state servicetrained them.

Peter also established arsenals and workshops that produced modern weapons for the new army. Tsar Peter established a meritocracy standing army in the bureaucracy 1699, and to he passed a lesser extent in the military. A new generation of technocrats emerged law that dominated the civil service in Russia conscripted some serfs and who werenobles for life. Despite his many reforms, unlike the nobles, loyal to officered many units in the Tsar. The new civil service governed Russia for two centuries and the Table of Ranks was only abolished by the Communists in 1917army. Peter also established was particularly eager to establish a series of ministries for the first time based on the European modelnew navy. He also set up Before his reign, Russia did not have a Senate which real maritime presence and was designed to counsel the Tsaressentially landlocked. The Tsar was an autocrat Peter imported skilled artisans and he gave sweeping powers to the bureaucracy and the eliteestablished shipyards. He also ended In doing so, the autonomy of monarch created the Patriarch of the Orthodox Church and he turned the Church into a department of the state. The Tsar totally dominated the Church just as he did all other aspects of first Russian life.<ref> MassieNavy, p. 156</ref> Despite which allowed Peter to project his reforms, Russia remained an autocracy military power and Peter was an absolute rulerhelped boost maritime trade.

====Military and Naval Reforms==How Peter the Great Westernize Russia?==The Russian army Many historians argue that Peter inherited was initiated a semi-professional militia cultural revolution that was recruited transformed Russia and changed it from villages a traditionalist and estates. The soldiers were poorly trained and armed. Peter knew that they were not able to match the Swedes and Ottomans in even medieval society into one deeply influenced by the battlefieldwest. The Certainly, Tsar turned the military into a professional force.<ref> Anisimov, Evgenii V. "The Reforms of Peter was deeply influenced by the Great: Progress through coercion in Russia, trans." John TWest. Alexander (Armonk, NY: ME Sharpe, 1993), p. 186 </ref> He appointed western officers to introduced many new ideas and technologies into his army and country. Many westerners came to train settle in the soldierscountry. Peter also established arsenals and workshops Many point to the City that produced modern weapons for the new armyhe founded, St Petersburg, which became a truly European city. Tsar Peter established a standing army in 1699 build many churches and he passed a law that conscripted some serfs stately buildings on his foundation, and nobles for lifehis successors continued this. Despite his many reforms Indeed, the nobles officered many units in the new army. Peter city was particularly eager to establish a new navybecome Russia’s cultural center. Prior to his reign Russia did not have a real maritime presence and was essentially landlocked. Peter imported skilled craftsmen and established shipyards. The monarch in doing so created It became the first home of many great Russian Navy writers and this not only allowed Peter to project his military power it also helped to boost maritime tradecomposers.

====Westernization====Many historians argue that Peter initiated a cultural revolution that transformed Russia and changed it from a traditionalist and even medieval society into one that was deeply influenced by the west. Certainly, Tsar Peter was deeply influenced by the west and he introduced many new ideas and technologies into his country. Many westerners came to settle in the country. Many point to the City that he founded, St Petersburg which became a truly European city. Peter build many churches and stately buildings in his foundation and this was continued by his successors. Indeed, the city was to become Russia’s cultural center. It became the home of many great Russian writers and composers. However, Peter did not really modernize his country. He was an autocrat , and he became an absolute ruler. Some Tsar critics of the Tsar state that he created a police state in Russia and created a rigid and stratified society, where most of the populace were serfs.<ref> Meehan-Waters, B. "The Russian Aristocracy and the Reforms of Peter the Great." Canadian-American Slavic Studies 8, no. 2 (1974): 288-302 </ref> The Tsar reforms of the Tsar did not change Russia and it remained a feudal and traditional society until the reign of Tsar Nicholas II in the 19th century.

====Conclusion====Peter the Great is widely regarded as one of the founders of modern Russia. There are no doubts of about his many and varied achievements. He defeated the Swedish Empire and turned his realm into a true Empire. Peter opened Russia to the west and he West, curtailed the nobility's power of the nobility , and he created a modern state, one that could compete with the other European countries. The Tsar also established the great city of St Petersburg , which became one of Europe’s great cultural centercenters.  However, Peter should not be a true modernizer. The Tsar turned Russia into a feudal society at a time when the rest of Europe was liberalizing. Individuals had very few rights , including members of the nobility. There was no opposition tolerated in Russia , and not even the Church had any freedom. Peter the Great did create a Russian Empire , but it was not a modern society, nor one that was or orientated towards Europe. The Tsar was an autocrat , and he created an absolute monarchy in Russia, that which resulted in a society that was feudal and highly stratifiedsociety.