Russia Under Peter the Great

8.Why is it possible to consider the methods Peter used to pick his government officials as a "social revolution"?

He placed no importance on birth he believed that men of all classes could be used. Virtually all land owning and serf owning aristocrats were required to serve in the army or civil service. Status to Peter was not based inherited rank but on his rank in state service.

ALEXIS ROMANOV

Second Romanov tsar; abolished assemblies of nobles; gained new powers over Russian Orthodox church.

Compare and Contrast: Analyze the following categories in terms of how similar they were in the Russia of Peter the Great (1682-1725) & the France of Louis XIV (1643-1715): A.Economic Policy:

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Compare and Contrast: Analyze the following categories in terms of how similar they were in the Russia of Peter the Great (1682-1725) & the France of Louis XIV (1643-1715): B.Religious Policy:

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Compare and Contrast: Analyze the following categories in terms of how similar they were in the Russia of Peter the Great (1682-1725) & the France of Louis XIV (1643-1715): C.Foreign Policy:

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Compare and Contrast: Analyze the following categories in terms of how similar they were in the Russia of Peter the Great (1682-1725) & the France of Louis XIV (1643-1715): D.Military Reform:

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Compare and Contrast: Analyze the following categories in terms of how similar they were in the Russia of Peter the Great (1682-1725) & the France of Louis XIV (1643-1715): E.Government Structure:

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Compare and Contrast: Analyze the following categories in terms of how similar they were in the Russia of Peter the Great (1682-1725) & the France of Louis XIV (1643-1715): F.Versailles v. St. Petersburg:

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Compare and Contrast: Analyze the following categories in terms of how similar they were in the Russia of Peter the Great (1682-1725) & the France of Louis XIV (1643-1715):G.Relationship with the Nobility:

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Compare and Contrast: Analyze the following categories in terms of how similar they were in the Russia of Peter the Great (1682-1725) & the France of Louis XIV (1643-1715):H.Condition of the Serfs/Peasants:

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PETER I of RUSSIA

After becoming tsar of Russia he realized how his nation needed to change in order to compete with the rest of the world. He travelled to the western states to create a treaty with the Turks and to primarily learn as much as he could about western technology and brought his knowledge back to his nation like new foodstuffs and beneficial things like dentistry. He carefully watched the Swedes and gradually made his military far more powerful. He secularized the Russian Orthodox Church and created one of the most powerful monarchies in Europe.

1.Summarize Peter's experiences in western Europe as a youth and why he decided to bring western ideas to Russia.

As a youth, Peter spent over a year in Holland an England where he worked as a ships carpenter in Amsterdam. He visited workshops, mines, office, galleries, hospitals, and forts talking with leaders on how to introduce western organizations and technology into Russia. His aim was in part defense and also to gain seaports on the Baltic and Black Seas.

The BATTLE OF NARVA (1700):

At this battle the Swedish defeated Russia, forcing their retreat and regrouping in the Great Northern War.

ST. PETERSBURG:

Baltic city made the new capital of Russia by Peter I.

7.How did Peter re-organize the Russian political system in order to strengthen his central authority?

Creates a "Senate" dependent on himself, 10 territorial areas called "governments" or gubernii. Placed the Tsar at the head of the church. He made it where the Tsar could choose his heir because he didnt like his son. Was a system of centralized absolutism which lacked legal regularity.

6.How did the Russian serfs fare under Peter's rule? What policies did he adopt towards them? Did these improve or worsen the lives of the serfs?

During Peter's rule, serfs had practically no freedom, since Peter restricted the mobility of the serfs to force them to pay taxes. This made serfdom much more onerous. He also made it so that poor individuals in general were considered peasants so they would have to pay taxes, making the range of peasants and serfs wider and more difficult.

9.What social and cultural changes did Peter impose on the Russian gentry in order to make them appear more "western"?

Peter created many social and cultural changes on the Russian gentry including requiring all gentry to put their sons in school, simplifying the Russian alphabet, editing the first newspaper to appear in Russia, preparing the first Russian book of etiquette, forbidding beards, and having no respect for hereditary aristocracy.

5.What economic policies did Peter adopt in order to strengthen the Russian state? Would this count as a "western" approach to economic policy?

Peter imposed many taxes on things such as polls, land, inns, the right to marry, wear a beard, and a large variety of things. These taxes were mainly for the peasants to pay. Peter also restricted the mobility of the peasants to ensure he got his taxes. He also encouraged mercantilist policies to raise government revenues, similar to the western approach of economic policy.

4.What were Peter's intentions in commissioning the building of St. Petersburg?

Peter intended to make St. Petersburg and symbol of the New Russia. Unlike Louis, Peter was much more successful in making St. Petersburg into an actual functioning city. He set up government offices, houses, and made deals with the merchant and craftsmen classes in order to generate support for settling the city.

3.What military reforms did Peter introduce to the Russian military after he had removed the streltsi?

Peter sought to build a stronger more unified military after the quelling of the streltsi rebellion. Essentially Peter began rebuilding the entire structure and style of the military, changing everything from the weapons used and the regiment structures to the military uniform. Peter created an organized, powerful force that rivaled Sweden's level of order and eventually triumphed over the invading Swedes.

The STRELTSI REVOLT (1698)

Peter wants to remain absolute authority so when he hears that these soldiers have revolted he hurries over and kills and tortures all of them very publicly

2.Summarize the trajectory of the war between Russia and Sweden 1700-1721: why was Peter ultimately able to prevail?

Peter's goal was to take over Sweden since they controlled the whole eastern shore of the Baltic including the Gulf of Finland. During the war, Peter drew the Swedes into the plains, which exposed them to the Russian winter. Peter was ultimately able to win due to the severity of the winter the Swedes experienced and his ability to reach so deeply into Europe. Ultimately, Peter was able to gain Russia a piece of the Baltic shore.

10.What were the long-term consequences of Peter's "revolution" on Russian society? Who embraced his changes and who rejected them?

There was a lot of disagreement with Peter's revolution. Many people preferred and adhered to the old customs of Russia and some believed that Peter's revolution was too abrupt of a change. As a cause of the revolution, native Russians began to resent foreigners because of their special privileges and rights, such as right of free exit or higher pay. The church and Peter's son also disliked his revolution and adhered to the old customs of Russia. Peter's son, Alexis, stated that he would restore Russia's old customs once he became Tsar.

PETER's attitude to BEARDS:

in 1698, Peter the Great of Russia ordered men to shave off their beards, and in 1705 levied a tax on beards in order to bring Russian society more in line with contemporary Western Europe.[

The BATTLE OF POLTAVA (1709):

the battle between the Swedish and the Russians where Peter the Great defeated the Swedish