Peter+the+Great

Rafiq, Adham

Prompt: Analyze the major ways through which Tsar #|Peter the Great reformed his society and various institutions in order to strengthen Russia and its position in Europe.



Domestic & Military Actions:
 * created Russia's first Navy
 * defeated Sweden in Great Northern War to have strategic positioning and become leading Baltic power
 * Conscription of peasantry into service
 * Pursued "Westernization" in attempt to make a Russia a leading industrial power, accelerate the pace of **change** with the introduction of new ideas, crops, and technologies
 * famously forced traditional nobles to shave their beards
 * never utilized Zemsky Sobor or Russian Parliament (Duma)
 * Building of St. Petersburg 1703, which later becomes symbol of his rule
 * all amounted to Peter the Great changing Russia into a great power that would play a large role in European history.

Reorganization of Society & all that encompasses:
 * serfs remained bound to the land, but they could be sold aside from the land, which allowed nobles to make serfs work where they desire (i.e. factory, coal mine)
 * forced nobles to serve in the army or hold a position in the civil administration
 * separated Russia into 50 provinces
 * created Senate to oversee administration during his military absences
 * instituted a Table of Ranks, through merit not bloodline. Once achieved a certain level, considered of the nobility.

Economic and Religious Actions:
 * adopted mercantilism to stimulate economy
 * raised volume of exports
 * used domestic resources to slow volume of #|imports(i.e. iron mining in Western Russia)
 * Abolished Patriarch
 * created Holy Synod
 * control of Church was evident with Peter in the position of the layman


 * Link**: www.losal.org/146420319215526107/lib/.../pete_the_great.ppt