. Analyze the major ways through which Tsar Peter the Great ?(1689-1725) sought to reform his society and institutions in order to strengthen Russia and its position in Europe.

context

CONTEXT: To put this era in context, in the century after 1650 Muscovy evolved into modern Russia. Moving out of Moscow, the Russians established themselves across northern Asia, and entered into closer relationtions with Europe, undergoing especially in the time of Tsar Peter the Great a rapid process of Europeanization. Russia had not been part of the general development of medieval and early modern Europe due to the pre domination of religious and cultural influence of Constantinople (Russia converted to Greek Orthodox branch Christianity), had been under Asian domination for 250 years (1240-1480), until 1480 when the duke of Muscovy, Ivan III, was able to throw of mongol overlordship and cease payment of tribute. The geographical location of Russia, especially with lack of warm-water seaports, had made commerce and communication with Western Europe difficult; therefore, Russia had not shared in the general European economic development after about 1100. After the death of Ivan III, the time of Troubles occured, and Michael ROmanov was elected to settle the wars. The absolute Romanov dystany was established, and later Peter the Great became tsar of Russia in 1682

thesis

By utilizing a powerful army, adopting western economic principles, and establishing an administrative structure that both centralized his power and ensured that the benefits of his reforms would not be quickly undone, Peter the Great significantly strengthened Russia.

group 1 military

Topic sentence: By utilizing a strong army, Peter the Great conquered new lands and held together the empire with policies centered around the military.
1: Reformed+westernized state and army after defeated at Battle of Narva
poorly organized and undisciplined army reformed into strong, professional force
2: After streltsi rebelled, Peter tortured+executed the streltsi and rebuilt the army from scratch.
employed officers, organized ranks, put soldiers into uniform
3: Held heterogenous pop of Russian Empire together with military might
when people protested and rose against tsar(ex:Stephen Razin), the military crushed these rebellions

group 2 economic policy

Topic sentence: adoption of western policies such as mercantilism encouraged the flow of revenue into Russia
Mercantilism, serfdom, European level of material production with Econ system vested largely on impressment of management and labor
1: Mercantilist policies (promoted in France from Colbert) adopted to raise gov revenues and to stimulate production; exports encouraged, fleet on Baltic built; mining, metallurgy, textiles develop (essential/indispensable for army)
2: Commercial companies organized with mixed group of Russians and foreigners utilize labor of serfs, which spread serfdom as an industrial institution.
3:Econ system vested largely on impressment of management and labor, not priv profit and wages as in capitalistic Western European economies. force Russia raised to European level of material production
3: Tax burdened peasants, but raise revenues

Mercantilist policies stimulate production and revenues, mixed comm companies made serfdom industrial ins, economical system vested largely on management and labor force Russia raised to European level of material production

admin reforms group 3

Topic sentence: the creation of a new administrative system organized the state and assured the success of Peter’s reformations in Russia.

New admin system, abolish hereditary succession, develop state service

Create a new admin system to oversee and operate system of tax collecting, economic controls, serf hunting, repression of internal rebellion. New “senate” dependent on Peter, and “governments” (gubernii). Rule church through procurator of holy synod. He put himself on top of the system, absolute ruler and autocrat of “All the Russias”
Abolish hereditary succession to the tsardom to prevent son from interfering with his plans
Develop state service (predecessors had already begun), require aristocrats serve in army or civil admin, status during peter’s reign depend on rank in his state service (people with actual skill could rise in ranks and assured success of his reform)

New admin system, abolish hereditary succession, develop state service

synthesis

Synthesis:
Peter the Great was similar to Louis XIV in the sense that they both had traumatic experiences as children, both were absolute monarchs, and both used mercantilist policies.
Peter and Louis both experience traumatic events while young and have regents in their place
Peter- Sophia spread rumors that caused a streltsy revolt, similar to Louis XIV’s Fronde. The murders scarred them, causing them have firm goal to control nobility in order to not have such an event occur again.
Both have absolutist reign- strengthened government power while reducing nobility's power.
Both used mercantilist policies (peter used Colbert’s mercantilist policies, same as Louis XIV’S)