Peter the GreatPeter the Great, whose reign saw the explosion of Russia onto the European scene, has become a legendary figure in history, as well as the subject of abiding controversy over the past two decades. Does he deserve the title 'The Great'? Was he 'enlightened' or 'barbaric'? Were his domestic reforms planned, or introduced as a direct result of the needs of war? Peter the Great answers key questions about his territorial expansion and domestic reforms. It reflects existing controversies and allows the reader to consider the views of a range of historians - Russian, English and American. The author avoids a narrative approach in order to focus on analysing issues that students are expected to address in their essays. |
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administrative Alexis argued that Peter autocracy Azov Baltic base became Black Sea Britain campaigns Cape Hango capital Caspian Sea Catherine Charles XII colleges conflict with Sweden considered cultural defeat diplomacy diplomatic Dutch Republic economic effective eighteenth century Embassy established example extensive Finland foreign France German Grand Vizier gubernii hand historians Holy Synod impact industrial Ingria institutions Ivan the Terrible Karelia Lentin major Massie meant Michael military modern monasteries Moscow Muscovite Narva naval navy nobility Northern War Ottoman Empire overall Peter's changes Peter's reforms Peter's reign Plate Poland political Poltava Portrait of Peter prikazy priority provintsii Pruth Raeff reign of Peter result revenues revolution revolutionary rulers Russian expansion Russian history senate serfs seventeenth century Siberia social soul tax Spanish Succession St Petersburg Streltsy Sweden Swedish Swedish Empire Table of Ranks territory traditional Muscovite Treaty of Nystadt Tsar Turkey Ukraine victory West
