Ch 5:4 Peter The Great

Peter wanted to use western Europe as a model for change to make Russia economically and socially stronger.

He forced change upon his state; brought Russian Orthodox Church under state control (abolished the office of patriarch, head of the church, set up Holy Synod to run the Church under his direction). Decreased the power of the Boyars by introducing a merit-based system and allowed lower-class people a chance. He also sent boyars children away to Europe to be educated). (Amongst all the many other things- newspaper, NY, beard tax...)

Hired European officers to train and drill soldiers. Increased the size of it and created a standing army. He also developed a navy.

To pay for huge army.

1) European Tour to the Netherlands to learn shipbuilding etc 2) Started Russian Newspaper 3) Raised women's status by having the attend social gatherings 4) Ordered nobles to wear western fashion 5) Advanced education by introducing school for the arts and sciences. Hired European scholars. 6) Beard tax 7) New Years Day moved from Sept to Jan 8) Merit-Based social system 9) Flag 10) Boyars children sent abroad to learn 11) Introduced potatoes as a staple in the diet

Isolated; by 1) Geographic barriers such as a seaport iced over most of the year 2) Orthodox Catholic religion 3) Feudal system 5) looked to Constantinople instead of Rome for leadership/inspiration and missed the Renaissance and Reformation.

Fought Sweden to gain a piece of the Baltic Coast; built a city there, named St. Petersburg. He forced serfs to build in terrible working conditions, thousands died. Also fought Ottomans for access to the Azov Sea, in the Black Sea, another warm water port.

Merit-based system. Disbanded the Streltzy (elite fighters for the Czar who rebelled when he was in Europe). Send their children to Europe to learn. Forced them to relocate to St. Petersburg. Forced them to wear western clothing

He fought Sweden.

Russian noble

A Russian emperor

He went mad and created a secret police who killed boyars he believed were against him (the boyars possibly killed his wife, Anastasia Romanov). He also killed his son in a fit of rage.