Peter the Great

Overview Early Years Trip to Europe Path of Westernization Territorial Expansion Influence In Praise of Peter

Early Years Born 1672 One of 13 children Curious, cruel & determined “I am a pupil and need to be taught” 6’6” - 7’2” (big dude) Czar (king)

Early Years Russia backward - technologically, socially No Renaissance or Reformation Literature nonexistent 95 % Population of 8,000,000 serfs (peasants) Few rights Few towns

Trip to Europe ( ) Travels anonymously Works in shipyards Visits factories, hospitals schools, museums Learns about European science, culture, military and administrative ways

Path of Westernization Brings in Western craftsmen, scientists Russians sent to Europe Rebuilds military Navy, army Merit promotion Adopts Western ways Dress, smoking, coffee drinking & shaving!

Path of Westernization Russian Orthodox church Peter sees as backward Forbid contact with foreigners Reorganizes - gains more control Sets up secular schools Promotes study of sciences

Territorial Expansion Fights wars with Turks (Ottomans) and Sweden Battle of Poltava (1709) with Sweden Gains Baltic warm water sea port “Window on Europe” Builds St. Petersburg Moves capital there

Influence Modernizes Russia Opens Russia to West Makes Russia a “player” Transforms Russia into a world power

In Praise of Peter by Mikhail Lomonosov (ca. 1747) Behold the sculpture here of him, who most audacious... He built a city; none bore battle’s brunt as he; He visited far lands, and journeyed oversea; To gather artists, to train soldiers was his doing, The enemies at home, as those abroad, subduing; There’s Peter, father of the fatherland, in brief; An earthly deity our Russia is adoring; Many the altar fires before this figure soaring, The hearts beholden to him, many beyond belief.