Westernization Process Under Peter the Great
Before Peter's Reign
- past tsars had limited trading rights of Western European merchants in Russia
- European merchants required to live in Germantown- suburb of Moscow where trade took place
- In 1676- 18,000 W. Europeans in Russia, most in Germantown
- Russian tsars were open to outside influence; wanted to control spread of European influence/ideas
Peter I
- Peter was last in line for the throne, spent a lot of time in Germantown
- Fascinated with modern technology, ship building
- forced policy of modernization as soon as he became tsar
- built Russian industries based on science, technology, and pragmatic thinking
- sent Russians abroad to study so educated, modern government officials would return
- toured Europe to learn about military and industrial technology
- sought to remodel Russia on more efficient lines
Military Reform
- wanted to make Russia a great military power
- offered better pay, drafted peasants to fight
- extensive training, modern weapons (gunpowder)
- By death, Russia had largest army in Europe
- Began constructing a navy
Bureaucratic Reform
- encouraged tax collection, industrial production
- nobles served as government officials
- Table of Ranks- officials moved along 14 stations according to merit
- promoted social mobility and subservience to the state
- boyar aristocrats disappeared
Social Reform
- abolished terem which hid rich women from outside world
- encouraged social mixing of the sexes
- pushed for western clothing, shaved beards
St. Petersburg
- new capital city on Baltic Sea
- facilitated growth of Russian navy
- offered access to European lands through the sea
- Government administration and nobles moved there