Russia in Transition

Peter the Great through Catherine the Great

IntroductionDuring the period of Peter I through Catherine II, Russia went through a transformation. Russia went from a

relative backwater to a major European power. Peter I initiated the process

after his great tour of Europe, instituting, among other things, a tax on beards, the building of a Russian fleet, and the construction of a new capital

city. His successors continued the trend, culminating in the reign of Catherine II.

Peter the GreatPeter I dragged Russia kicking and screaming out of the middle ages and into the modern world. There was much resistance to his reforms, however.

Here we see a caricature of Peter I cutting off the beard of a Boyar. Note the epic, flowing moustache of the Boyar and the modern, European style clothing that Peter is wearing.

Peter I also fought a number of wars to increase the territory and prestige of Russia.

Anna

Anna succeeded Peter I after a few short lived tsars. Her reign was marked by her distrust of the Russian nobles and a war with the Ottoman Empire.

Elizabeth was another Russian ruler who took Russia into European affairs. In her case, she entered the War of Austrian Succession and the 7 Years War.

Catherine II, featured in an episode of The Venture Brothers, (Season 2, Episode 10, I Know Why the Caged Bird Kills) , saw Russia grow to it’s greatest extent. She also oversaw the period known as the “Golden Age of the Nobility”, despite her pro Enlightenment views. Peasants also continued to suffer under her reign.

Wrap Up

In conclusion, beginning with Peter I and ending with Catherine II, Russia was re-forged from a medieval kingdom into a modern, European Empire. Russia expanded past the Urals and into Siberia, eventually amassing an empire that spanned almost 1/6th of the landmass of the earth. The culture of Russia was also transformed. Largely gone were the beards and autonomy of the Boyars, replaced by the iron authority of the tsars. Starting with Peter I, though tapering off as his successors took over, service to the state was stressed to the nobles, as opposed to looking out for themselves. As we have seen from the wonderful pictures in this slideshow, the reigns of Peter I through Catherine II were some of the most pivotal years of Russia’s history.