Peter the Great

Background Information about Peter the Great:

• Czar of Russia from 1696-1725
• Brought the church further under imperial control by creating the Holy Synod, the council who ran the church for him
• Created the Table of Ranks which formalized positions and ranks in the Russian government and military, thereby reducing nobles' ranks and promoting new nobles
• Developed the policy of westernization to transform Russia to become more like western Europe
  • Promoted western clothing
  • Forced men to cut off and shave their beards
  • Introduced the potato to Russia revolutionizing their diet
  • Improved education, navigation, arts, sciences, and universities
• Moved the capital to St. Petersburg (named for himself) in order to have the capital city more easily accessible by water for trade purposes
• Modernized the Russian army under the leadership of foreign military officers
• Elevated the status of women in Russia