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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 mighty, and its Patriarch was second in power only to the Tsar. Many enemies encircled Russia was encircled by many enemies, it . It was menaced by many powerful enemies , including the Swedish and Ottoman Empires, who frequently threaten its territories.<ref>Bushkovitch, p. 134</ref>

====Who was Peter the Great==?==[[File: 640px-Lomonosov Poltava 1762 1764.jpg |400px250px|thumb|left|Mosaic of Peter the Great at Poltava]]Peter was born in Moscow, Russia in, 1672. He was the 14th child of Tsar Alexis by his second wife. After the death of his father, he jointly ruled with his brother Ivan V from 1682. Ivan died in 1696 , and then Peter ruled alone. The Tsar was a giant of a man and was unpredictable and prone to violent outbursts. Peter was a curious man by nature , and he wanted to make his kingdoms strong and to protect it them from its their many enemies. To do this, he wanted to modernize his realm. He also wanted to strengthen his own position in regard to regarding the local aristocracy. As a youth, he and his brother were dominated by the Boyars and for the rest of his life, he distrusted them. Peter, 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 nunnery. 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), p. 187</ref>.

This did not stop him from modernizing his country. The Tsar appointed many western advisors to his court and made western dress compulsory. Peter later toured EuropeAs a youth, this was known as the Great Embassy and he learned much about the west and especially its new technologies. When he returned he was ever more determined to modernize his country. Perhaps brother were dominated by the main motive that drove Boyars, and for the Tsar to transform rest of his realm was to secure a military advantagelife, he distrusted them. Tsar Early in his reign, Peter was an expansionist and he wanted to secure warm water ports that would improve Russia’s access to the seasolidified his rule crushed a rebellion by Moscow's soldiers who supported his half-sister. He fought wars with Sweden and Turkey had her later sent to secure these portsa nunnery. Peter seized territory , in Estoniathe first years of his reign, Latvia and Finland and land from the Ottoman Empire. By 1710 Russia had access to the Baltic and the Black Seasuppress many rebellions. He remained a ruthless leader.<ref> Anisimov, Evgenii V. In The Reforms of Peter the Great Northern War: Progress Through Violence in Russia (London, Routledge, the Swedish King2015), 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 Swedesp. 187</ref>

Charles invaded the Ukraine, in order to join up with rebellious CossacksThis did not stop him from modernizing his country. Peter defeated the Swedish army by purposely directing their troops The Tsar appointed many western advisors to the city of Poltava, during an unbearable Russian winter and there he surrounded them his court and annihilated Charles XII armymade western dress compulsory. In the aftermath of his victory over SwedenPeter later toured Europe, Peter founded a city on the Baltic Coast and named it after himself Petersburg. This city which was a symbol of the pivot that Russia was making under the Tsar and it became known as Russia’s ‘window on Europe’ <ref> Anisimovthe Great Embassy, p. 159</ref>. By this time Peter was absolute ruler of Russia and in 1721 he named himself as Emperor of All Russia, Great Father of learned much about the Fatherland, west and "the Greatespecially its new technologies." Peter was a reformer but When he was like previous Tsars and returned, he had a reputation for being bloodthirsty and cruel. He was even cruel ever more determined to modernize his own familycountry. His sent Perhaps the main motive that drove the Tsar to transform his first wife realm was to secure a nunnery and had a son convicted of treason and was secretly executed in 1718military advantage. Tsar Peter was an expansionist, and he wanted to secure warm water ports that would improve Russia’s access to the Great died on February 8, 1725, without nominating an heirsea. He is entombed in the Cathedral of Saints fought wars with Sweden and Turkey to secure these ports. Peter and Paul, located seized territory in in St. Petersburg. It is reported that when asked who should rule after his deathEstonia, he whispered ‘the strongest’ <ref> MasieLatvia, p. 214</ref>. Stability was only restored after many years when his daughter Elizabeth became Tsarinaand Finland and land from the Ottoman Empire.

====Peter By 1710 Russia had access to the Great Baltic and the Serfs====Peter's reign saw even great controls imposed on the serfsBlack Sea. Peter gave In the Boyers and the landowning class more powers over the serfs. Peter passed laws that formalized the rights of the landowners about Great Northern War, the serfs and as a resultSwedish King, the unfree class became ever more dependent on their masters. Peter gave estate-owners new powersCharles XII, including inflicted a requirement that no serf could leave his master’s lands without their written permission. He also placed new financial burdens humiliating defeat on the serfs. The tax system that was established by Peter was one that was very oppressive on at the poor and the serfsBattle of Narva. The Tsar Swedish monarch, who owned extensive estates created was a class of state-serfs or state-peasantsmilitary genius, defeated Poland and Denmark. They had more freedoms than the average serf and they paid their rent and dues directly A Swedish attempt to the state. Despite his reputation as a modernizermarch on Moscow was defeated, but this did not deter the Tsar helped to strengthen the feudal order in his country and reinforced the institution of serfdom that had fall into abeyance in western Europe in the Middle AgesSwedes.<ref>Anisimov, p 115</ref>

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 and they helped to boost the economy.

However, the country remained agrarian and private enterprise The Tsar was stymied by the vast state monopolies and heavy taxation. Peter did begin the process of industrialization in his country when persuaded that he set up state-workshops needed to engage in the cities and townsmajor taxation reform. To boost Russian manufacturers also pursued proto-protectionist trade policies, placing heavy tariffs on imports and trade to maintain The solution was a favorable environment for Russian-made goodsnew poll tax that replaced all other taxes. Peter did not really modernize The tax burden on the Russian economy as he tightly controlled it and the country’s economy, as a result, did not fundamentally change.<ref> Robert Kpoorer orders increased dramatically. Massie, Peter introduced many new technologies into his country from the Great: His Life and World (Londonwest, Random House Publishing Group, 2012), pwhich helped boost the economy. 22</ref>

====Administrative Reforms====Peter’s administrative reforms all sought to counter However, the influence of country remained agrarian and private enterprise was stymied by the Boyars. The Tsar hated the nobles vast state monopolies and did not trust them and many were opposed to his reforms as they threatened their privilegesheavy taxation. Peter began industrialization in his country when he set up state workshops in the Great established the Table of Ranks this was a complex system of titles cities and officestowns. The table had twentyTo boost, Russian manufacturers also pursued proto-four ranks. Each rank had its own level of service protectionist trade policies, placing heavy tariffs on imports and trade to the Tsarmaintain a favorable environment for Russian-made goods. The establishment of As a result, Peter did not really modernize the Table of Ranks was an attack on Russian economy as he tightly controlled it, and the power of the Boyars and transformed Russian societycountry’s economy did not fundamentally change.<ref> MasieRobert K. Massie, Peter the Great: His Life and World (London, Random House Publishing Group, 2012), p. 11322</ref> The reform abolished hereditary office holding and allowed new people to join the bureaucracy and state service.

==Which Administrative Reforms did Peter established a meritocracy in the bureaucracy and Great Institute?==Peter’s administrative reforms all sought to a lesser extent in counter the military. A new generation influence of technocrats emerged that dominated the civil service in Russia and who were, unlike Boyars. The Tsar hated the noblesand did not trust them, loyal and many were opposed to his reforms as they threatened their privileges. Peter the Tsar. The new civil service governed Russia for two centuries and Great established the Table of Ranks . This was only abolished by the Communists in 1917. Peter also established a series complex system of ministries for the first time based on the European modeltitles and offices. The table had twenty-four ranks. He also set up a Senate which was designed Each rank had its own level of service to counsel the Tsar. The Tsar Table of Ranks' establishment was an autocrat and he gave sweeping powers to the bureaucracy and the elite. He also ended the autonomy of the Patriarch of attack on the Orthodox Church Boyars' power 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 transformed Russian lifesociety.<ref> MassieMasie, p. 156113</ref> Despite his reforms, Russia remained an autocracy The reform abolished hereditary office holding and allowed new people to join the bureaucracy and Peter was an absolute rulerstate service.

====Military and Naval Reforms====The Russian army that Peter inherited was established a semi-professional militia that was recruited from villages and estates. The soldiers were poorly trained meritocracy in the bureaucracy and armed. Peter knew that they were not able to match the Swedes and Ottomans a lesser extent in the battlefield. The Tsar turned the military into a professional force.<ref> Anisimov, Evgenii V. "The Reforms A new generation of Peter the Great: Progress through coercion in technocrats emerged that dominated Russia's civil service and who were, trans." John T. Alexander (Armonk, NY: ME Sharpe, 1993)unlike the nobles, p. 186 </ref> He appointed western officers to his army and loyal to train the soldiersTsar. Peter also established arsenals and workshops that produced modern weapons for the The new army. Tsar Peter established a standing army in 1699 and he passed a law that conscripted some serfs and nobles civil service governed Russia for lifetwo centuries. Despite his many reforms The Communists only abolished the nobles officered many units Table of Ranks in the new army1917. Peter was particularly eager to establish also established a new navy. 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 series of ministries for the first Russian Navy and this not only allowed Peter to project his military power it also helped to boost maritime tradetime based on the European model.

====Westernization====Many historians argue that Peter initiated He also set up a cultural revolution that transformed Russia and changed it from a traditionalist and even medieval society into one that Senate which was deeply influenced by designed to counsel the westTsar. Certainly, The Tsar Peter was deeply influenced by the west an autocrat, and he introduced many new ideas and technologies into his country. Many westerners came gave sweeping powers to settle in the country. Many point to bureaucracy and the City that he founded, St Petersburg which became a truly European cityelite. Peter build many churches and stately buildings in his foundation and this was continued by his successors. Indeed, He also ended the city was to become Russia’s cultural center. It became autonomy of the home Patriarch of many great Russian writers and composers. Howeverthe Orthodox Church, Peter did not really modernize his country. He was an autocrat and he became an absolute ruler. Some critics turned the Church into a department of the state. The Tsar state that totally dominated the Church just as he created a police state in Russia and created a rigid and stratified society, where most did all other aspects of the populace were serfsRussian life.<ref> Meehan-Waters, B. "The Russian Aristocracy and the Reforms of Peter the Great." Canadian-American Slavic Studies 8Massie, nop. 2 (1974): 288-302 156</ref> The Despite his reforms of the Tsar did not change , Russia and it remained a feudal an autocracy, and traditional society until the reign of Tsar Nicholas II in the 19th centuryPeter was an absolute ruler.

==How did Peter the Great change the Russian Military and Navy?==ConclusionThe Russian army that Peter inherited was a semi-professional militia that was recruited from villages and estates. The soldiers were poorly trained and armed. Peter knew that they were not able to match the Swedes and Ottomans on the battlefield. The Tsar turned the military into a professional force.<ref> Anisimov, Evgenii V. "The Reforms of Peter the Great: Progress through coercion in Russia, trans." John T. Alexander (Armonk, NY: ME Sharpe, 1993), p. 186 </ref> He appointed western officers to his army and trained them.  Peter also established arsenals and workshops that produced modern weapons for the new army. Tsar Peter established a standing army in 1699, and he passed a law that conscripted some serfs and nobles for life. Despite his many reforms, the nobles officered many units in the new army. Peter was particularly eager to establish a new navy. Before his reign, Russia did not have a real maritime presence and was essentially landlocked. Peter imported skilled artisans and established shipyards. In doing so, the monarch created the first Russian Navy, which allowed Peter to project his military power and helped boost maritime trade. ==How Peter the Great Westernize Russia?==Many historians argue that Peter initiated a cultural revolution that transformed Russia and changed it from a traditionalist and even medieval society into one deeply influenced by the west. Certainly, Tsar Peter was deeply influenced by the West. 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 on his foundation, and his successors continued this. 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 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 did not change Russia and 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.