In the sixteenth century, Russia faced many problems connected to Ivan IV and his rule. He was aggressive and destructive in taking the territories away from noble families and giving them to his followers. Moreover, his autocracy expanded to other areas of life and harmed all social structures (Wiesner-Hanks 356). The death of Ivan IV brought other troubles as it created a vacuum of power in the Russian government. The inability to appoint a leader unanimously led to conflicts.
Peter I thought that the best approach to modernizing Russia was through war. Therefore, he prioritized the advancement of the army and everything that was connected to it, including the production of military equipment and food for the soldiers. Moreover, he wanted to gain control over territories that would allow the country to have access to the sea. Peter, I brought many foreigners to the country to design new buildings and give tactical advice to the troops. Furthermore, he opened universities and schools to make young people more competent. In some way, Peter’s military reforms contributed to the modernization of other spheres of life.
Russia was able to expand its empire because of army advancement. The military reforms of Peter helped to create a viable structure for the military. In the end, his approach to the country’s advancement allowed Russian troops to defeat the navies of other nations.
Life of Peter the Great
Some writers portray Peter the Great as a short-tempered person. Bishop Burnet writes that Peter does not behave as a ruler because he is temperamental and impulsive (“Peter the Great”). The author notes that the tsar’s personality does not make him a good leader in the eyes of his servants. Von Korb supports this idea, stating that Peter is not only violent but also anxious and paranoid. However, some authors show Peter the Great from a different angle. General Alexander Gordon describes Peter as “a lover of company, and a man of much humor and pleasantry” highlighting that Peter, while rather impulsive, is also insightful and intelligent (“Peter the Great”). Various depictions of the tsar show his complex personality and distinguish him from other rulers.
Peter’s sister planned to remove him from his throne after his return from Western Europe. A number of his followers participated in this process as well. The tsar ended his trip earlier than planned and confronted the group of conspirators.
Peter wanted to reform the Russian court to appear more European. It is possible that his ideas were influenced by his desire to adhere to the customs of other countries. Peter ordered the boyars to dress differently to look like the most advanced nations that he perceived. Peter traveled to various countries and saw their technological advancements. Thus, he tried to replicate other aspects of their cultures as well.
Works Cited
“Peter the Great: Biographies.” Fordham University, 2017, Web.
Wiesner-Hanks, Merry E. Early Modern Europe, 1450-1789. 2nd ed., Cambridge University Press, 2013.