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Chapter 17Part 4
Peter the Great
Peter the Great 1682-1725
His sister, Sophia, was his first regent when he was very young
She plotted to have him killed and was found out
Peter had her banished to a monastery
His mother took over as regent until he was 22
He was 7 feet tall and very strong He was a poor loser at games, tests
of skill
Peter the Great
Was fascinated with new technology of the West
Toured parts of Western Europe “in disguise”
Was a dock worker in the Netherlands
Was determined to westernize and modernize Russia…even culturally
The Beard Tax (was graduated based on ability to pay)
The Revolt of the Strelski 1698
The Moscow Guard Had successfully overthrown
previous leaders Attempted to keep Peter from the
throne The revolt was crushed
(any similarities to the Fronde in France?)
Louis XIV and Peter the Great…both considered the quintessential Absolutist of his region
Greatest Concern: Military Power
Each Russian village had annual quotas: warm bodies for the military…25 year commitment!
75% of National Revenue went to the military
Army numbered 200,000+ men AND an additional 100,000 special
Cossack forces
The Military
Peter established Royal Military and Artillery Academies
All young male nobles were required to leave home and serve 5 years of compulsory education
Non-nobles had opportunities to rise within the ranks
Large navy (850 ships) built on the Baltic
The Great Northern War (with Sweden) 1700-1721
Russia, Poland, Denmark, Saxony v. Sweden
Most important Battle: Battle of Poltava was a decisive Russian victory over Sweden
1721 Treaty of Nystad: Russia gained Latvia and Estonia (Russia’s “Window on the West”) in the Baltic Sea
Industry
Peter imported western technicians and craftsmen to help build large factories in Russia
By 1725 Russia out-produced England in Iron Production (Sweden and German produced more)
Factories had industrial form of serfdom (factory workers bought and sold with the factory or not) But industrial serfs produced inferior goods
Created
State regulated monopolies
Similar to those in Western Europe
The Government
Became more efficient The Tsar ruled by decree (absolutist) Theoretically: the tsar owned all land in
the state The Nobles and peasants served the
state No representative assemblies All landowners owed a lifetime of service
to the state (either military or in the civil service or in the courts)
In return, the Boyars gained more control over the serfs
Table of Ranks
Educational standards for civil servants (most were nobles)
Peter tried to replace old Boyar nobility with new service-based nobility loyal to the tsar (like in the West)
Secret Police ruthlessly crushed all opponents of the state (tsar)
Taxation
Head tax on every male Heavy taxes on sales and rent
The Church
Took control of the Church by making it a cabinet-level department: The Holy Synod in 1700 after the death of the Patriarch
St. Petersburg
Tried to create a city similar to Amsterdam
Built the Winter Palace there By 1725 it was the largest city in
Northern Europe Population of 75,000
St. Petersburg became the capital of Russia
The Winter Palace
St. Petersburg
Construction began in 1703 Labor was conscripted (drafted)
Peasants Heavy death toll Many Nobles were ordered to move
there and build their homes according to Peter’s plans
Merchants and artisans also ordered to live in the city and to help build it
Peter’s Reforms
Modernized Russia Had a more modern military and
state bureaucracy
Peter began issuing explanations of his decrees to gain popular support
Peter the Great
Strangled his son with his bare hands