Russian Fashion and Architecture in the

18th century

Val-Pierre Dai’ReHistory 142

October 20, 2009Module 2

The 18th century brought Peter the Great to power in Russia; Peter the Great brought change to Russia. Peter made Russia a European power through military gains. But after Peter’s return from western Europe he decided that Russia needed to be more modern like the rest of Europe. He determined that to make Russia modern he would do it through fashion, architecture and many other ways.

Peter the Great heavily influenced the change of fashion in Russia during the 18th century. He “made” the nobles dress more European so they could appear modern.

Peter the Great took the people through a series of changes. Tsar Peter chose to have the people dress in a western European style.

17th C 18th C

Peter the Great wanted to get away from the old style of Muscovy. So he began the process of building his city St. Petersburg in 1701.

St. Petersburg was built from models of western Europe. Peter the Great wanted HIS city to be more modern, like the rest of Europe.

Peter the Great loved ships, and his city reflects that. He wanted to have a city like Venice where everybody traveled by boat; unfortunately that did not happen.

The palaces were not the only modern buildings in St. Petersburg; the churches were also designed in a more modern way. This is the first Orthodox church in St.Petersburg. Build in 1712-1733 on Zayachy Island, within the Peter and Paul Fortress .

In Conclusion

Peter the Great greatly modernized Russia. From the dress to the architecture of his city, Russia had begun to look like a modern state. Peter the Great forced the unwilling Russian peoples to a place where Russia would be respected by the West and not looked down upon.