Peter the Great1672-1725

Statue of Peter the Great in St. Petersburg

Words To Know• czar: title used for all-powerful rulers in Russia• modernize: to become more up-to-date (modern=today)• westernize: to become more like "the West" (at this time, we were

talking about western Europe)• reform: changes that are made (remember: during the

Reformation, people wanted to make changes to the Catholic Church)

Early Life• Birth: in Moscow, Russia on

June 9, 1672• 14th child in his family• Dad: the czar of Russia• Part of ruling Romanov family

Sharing Power• Began joint rule with brother Ivan at age 10 (1682)• mom made most decisions• Ivan died 1696, making Peter the czar• Known as Peter I

Russia At Time of Rule • Years Peter ruled alone: 1696-1725• Underdeveloped compared to Europe

o did not participate in Renaissance or Reformationo remained isolated and didn't modernizeo doesn't have much contact with Europe

• In order to make Russia a great nation once again, Peter challenged the nobility and undertook several reformso Changed almost every aspect of Russian life

Peter's Goals• Westernization

o Reforms

• Get warm-water porto Waro St. Petersburg

Goal 1: Westernization • Primary goal: wanted to westernize Russia• Visits Europe in 1697• To westernize Russia, Peter...

o simplified the alphabeto made men shave their beardso introduced turnips & potatoeso started Russia’s first newspapero raised women’s statuso adopted Western fashiono advanced education

Reforms for Westernization• Brings the Orthodox Church under the czar's authority (increasing his own power)• Reduces power of great landowners• Creates strong navy• Modernizes army by having European officers train soldiers• Secularizes schools• Introduces new administrative and territorial divisions of the country• Focuses on science and technology

Goal 2: Warm Water Port

• wants a port to make travel to West easier

• But...o Baltic Sea is controlled by Swedeno Black Sea is controlled by Ottoman Empire

• Goes to war with both during his ruleo Gets first Russian naval base at Taganrog (on

Black Sea) in win against Ottoman Empireo Gains territory in win against Sweden

Russian Expansion

Establishing St. Petersburg

• In 1703, begins building new capital called St. Petersburg.

• Building city takes many years, many serfs die in process.

• "Window to Europe"

"English Embankment," St. Petersburg

Palace Square, St. Petersburg

Church of the Savior on Spilt

Blood, St. Petersburg

Death

• died on February 8, 1725• did not choose an heir• is entombed in the

Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in St. Petersburg

Accomplishments• By the time of Peter’s death, Russia was

force to be reckoned with in Europe• Expanded territory and got port on Black

Sea• However: known as a cruel leader

o reforms often meant high taxes ----> peasant revolts -----> suppression

o had his own son executed (for treason)

Resources• http://www2.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips/t5prod/djanpp4_files/frame.html• http://www.biography.com/people/peter-the-great-9542228• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Young_Peter_the_Great_parsuna.jpg• http://abeonaforum.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/russia-under-peter-the-great.gif• http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/75276110.jpg• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Peter_and_Paul_Cathedral.jpg/399px-Peter_and_Paul_Ca

thedral.jpg