Nihar Pathare
Chapter Objective
Explain the westernization process under Peter The Great.
Peter I (Also known as Peter the Great)
Reigned: 1682-1725
Peter's Efforts Towards Westernization
|
Reforms
Military Reforms
Bureaucratic Reforms
Social Reforms
- Peter's ambition was to make Russia a military superpower. He offered better wages, and drafted peasants to serve as soldiers.
- His army was given training and modern weapons to increase their deadliness. In addition to this, aristocrats were required to study mathematics, especially geometry, to help them with military tactics (such as aiming cannons).
- His efforts helped make Russia the largest army in Europe and win the Great Northern War from 1700-1722 against Sweden.
Bureaucratic Reforms
- Peter started tax collection to fuel his government. Nobles served as government officials because of the small pool of educated people.
- The boyars disappeared, and the Table of Ranks was created to categorize nobles into 14 ranks based on this merit. This encouraged subservience to the state.
Social Reforms
- Peter the Great also changed gender relations. The terem was abolished, which allowed upper class women to mix with men outside their families.
- Men and women generally mixed, and people had to wear western clothing.
- Peter required that all men shaved their beards, or pay extra taxes.
St. Petersburg
|