Peter The Great Influence On Russia

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Born in 1672, Peter the Great was destined for greatness even though he was not first in line for the throne as he had two older brothers. He was favored over his brothers. Feodor, his older brother died under mysterious circumstances related to poisoning supposedly at the hands of Sophia, his mother. The middle son, Ivan, in the line for the throne was described by Kazimierz Waliszewski in his book, Peter the Great, as being “sickly, three parts blind and more than half and idiot.” He was completely unsuitable for the throne and was attended fulltime by sick nurses but was a co-tsar with Peter until the Streltsy, a military faction with political interests that favored Ivan, attempted to prevent Peter the Great from assuming the throne. The…show more content…
He changed local, provincial, and central government in Russia. By 1699, Peter the great had given towns the right to elect officials and by 1702 most towns had more power to make decisions and were not as controlled by the provincial government. Once ruled by sheriffs and boards, the towns would eventually be run by guilds. Even though towns had more power, they still were under the tight grasp of the provincial government. These provincial governments were divided into eight sections called guberniias which had Gubenators (Seriously! Gubenators!) who were to directly report to Peter the Great. They wielded an enormous amount of power over their uzedas, or districts. The central government included Peter the Great, the forty departments of the Prikazy and a nine man senate. The Prikazy would be replaced in 1718 by colleges, like the Swedes…show more content…
This was one of his greatest feats because they became a force to be reckoned with. The increased military provided more than security for the nation but allowed them to expand. Other reforms included the increase of trade through changing the no foreign trade policy to becoming world sea trade center and his reforms that set in motion the application of western mercantilism to stimulate agriculture, industry and commerce which helped to make him a remembered as a great leader. His active foreign policy was meant to increase contact between foreign countries all while battling in a war that would not conclude for twenty-one years. I think that although Peter the Great had some controversial reforms, in the areas of religion, fashion, and social laws I believe that his most successful attempts to westernize Russia were the reorganization of the government, the establishment of the army and navy, increasing of trade, and active foreign policy; making him the greatest tsar’s in Russian
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