Project about Catherine the Great!

Catherine the Great. Catherine 2 "the Great" – 2 May 1729 and died on 17th of November 1796. She was a German Princess. Later she became the Empress of Russia.

A German Princess whose real name was Sophia Augusta Fredericka, married Peter 3 rd of Russia and changed her name to "Catherine". She accepted Russian Orthodox faith.

She correspondent with many of great minds of her era, including Voltaire and Diderot. Catherine became the Empress of Russia

Catherine proceeded to " westernize" Russia Catherine proceeded to " westernize" Russia. After a peasant revolt in 1773 led by Yemelyan Pugachev, Catherine instituted several drastic reforms. First, she encouraged the modernization of agriculture and industry.

Second she supported foreign investment in economically underdeveloped areas. Third, Catherine encouraged education for the nobles and middle class. She gave equal rights to Muslims in Russia, including the right to build mosques.

Catherine added about 518,000 square kilometers to Russian territory.

The Hermitage Museum started as Catherine's personal collection The Hermitage Museum started as Catherine's personal collection. She founded the famous Smolny institute for noble young ladies.

When Radishchev published his “Journey from St When Radishchev published his “Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow” in 1790, Catherine sent him to Siberia.

Catherine died in November 1796, and was buried in St. Petersburg.