2. Who was Peter the Great?
Who was Peter the Great?
Peter the Great was a Russian czar who is best known for his
widespread reforms that attempted to establish Russia’s status
as a world power.
He was the ruler of the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian
Empire from 1682 until he died in 1725; before 1696, he jointly
ruled with his half-brother Ivan V, who had no real power.
He expanded the territory of the Tsardom into a much bigger
empire that became a significant European power through
numerous effective wars.
He presided over a cultural revolution that replaced some of
the traditionalist and primitive social and political systems with
one that was contemporary, systematic, westernized, and had
its origins in the Enlightenment.
Peter the Great by Paul Delaroche, 1838
3. Synopsis
Synopsis
Born Pyotr Alekseyevich in Moscow, Tsardom of Russia on June
9, 1672 (O.S. 30 May), Peter the Great was a Russian czar who
is best known for his widespread reforms that attempted to
establish Russia’s status as a world power.
He also created a strong navy, upgraded his army in
accordance with Western ideals, secularized schools,
exercised more power over the conservative Orthodox
Church, and introduced new governmental and provincial
divisions of the country.
Moscow in the seventeenth-century
5. Early Rule
Early Rule
Peter the Great was the fourteenth child of Czar Alexis through
his second wife, Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina.
He ruled Russia with his brother Ivan V from 1682 until the
latter’s death in 1696; his brother’s death made him Sovereign
(Emperor) of All Russia.
Peter took over a nation that was rigorously underdeveloped
in comparison to the culturally thriving European countries.
While the Renaissance and the Reformation swept through
Europe, Russia chose not to undergo Westernization and
remain secluded from modernization.
Czar Alexis, Peter the Great’s father
6. Early Rule – cont.
Early Rule – cont.
Throughout his rule, Peter assumed long-term reforms in order
to restore Russia as a powerful state.
Peter successfully resisted opposition from Russia’s medieval
nobility and began a number of reforms that changed all
aspects of Russian society.
Among his important reforms were the creation of a strong
navy, restructuring his army in accordance with Western
traditions, secularizing his army, establishing more governing
over the backward-looking Orthodox Church, and new
administrative and territorial divisions of Russia.
Peter the Great’s fleet, 1709
9. Sweeping Changes
Sweeping Changes
Peter turned his attention to advancing science, employing a number
of experts to teach his people about technical developments.
He particularly deliberated on developing trade and industry and
forming an improved bourgeoisie (the wealthy, highly advantaged
middle class capitalists) population.
Reflecting the culture of the West, Peter modernized the Russian
alphabet, introduced the Julian calendar, and founded the first
Russian newspaper, the Vedomosti (literally “The Journal”).
Peter was a visionary and skilled envoy who ended Russia’s old form
of government and employed a feasible Senate, which managed all
branches of administration; he also made innovative achievements in
Russian foreign policy, some of which were the capture of the
Ottoman city of Azov in 1695 and the capture of the Swedish fort of
Nyenschantz (Nyenskans), present-day St. Petersburg – the latter
achievement was a major one as it was Russia’s first warm water port.
Vedomosti (Ведомости)
12. The Great Embassy
The Great Embassy
Another major achievement for Peter the Great was the Great
Embassy, when he visited Western Europe in 1697-1698.
Western Europe inspired him to westernize Russia; in addition to
the founding of the Vedomosti, westernizing Russia helped
influence the country with respect to better education and
different clothes.
New universities were founded in Russia to ensure decent
educations for future generations.
Peter the Great made his people wear more European style
clothing that they did not like wearing.
St. Petersburg State University
13. Territorial Gains
Territorial Gains
Peter the Great obtained land in Estonia, Latvia, and
Lithuania.
A number of wars with Turkey in the south won him access to
the Black Sea.
He conquered the Swedish army in 1709 by deliberately
directing their troops to the city of Poltava (in present-day
Ukraine) during a horrible Russian winter.
Three years later, he established a city in his name, St.
Petersburg on the Neva River and moved the capital there
from its previous location in Moscow; it would be the capital of
Russia from 1713-1728 and again from 1732-1918.
Shortly after, the new city was named Russia’s “window to
Europe”.
St. Petersburg in its early years
16. Shortcomings and Death
Shortcomings and Death
Under Peter’s reign, Russia became a great European nation; in 1721,
he declared Russia an empire and was given the title of “Emperor of
All Russia”, “Great Father of the Fatherland”, and “the Great”.
While he proved to be a successful and respected leader, Peter was
also known to be harsh and oppressive.
His numerous reforms were frequently accompanied by high taxes
that led to revolting among Russian citizens, which Peter immediately
put down.
Peter, a frightening 6 and ½ feet tall, was a striking man who drank
overly and had violent habits.
He was married twice and had eleven children, most of whom did
not make it beyond infancy; the oldest son from his first marriage,
Alexis, was found guilty of high treason and secretly put to death in
1718.
Peter the Great died in St. Petersburg on February 8, 1725 at age 52,
without designating a successor.
His second wife, Catherine I, succeeded him; she ruled as Empress of
Russia from 1725 until her own death two years later.
He is buried in the Cathedral of Peter and Paul in St. Petersburg.
Peter and Paul Cathedral, St. Petersburg
18. References
References
http://www.biography.com/people/peter-the-great-
9542228#shortcomings-and-death
http://peterdagreat.weebly.com/accomplishments.html
Flag Map of Russia
