Western Civilization. Peter the Great Term Paper

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Author Hughes notes, "More recently M.S. Anderson described the fleet as 'a gigantic, complex and expensive toy built and operated for [Peter's] personal gratification'" ("A Hero of Our Time" 42). In addition, Peter's reign changed Russia from a relatively minor power to a larger, world power, but it also changed the lives of the Russian people in numerous ways. The previous Muscovite era imposed few burdens on Russians other than taxes and their inability to simply change their community or tax burdens (Raeff 22). The people acted and reacted according to custom, which was an all-encompassing part of Russian life, but Peter's rule changed all that.

Peter created what may be now called an early police state that dictated just about every aspect of people's lives, from education to industry and commerce. Peter did this to ensure the well being of his people, but many felt his edicts went against long held and treasured customs, something extremely important in Russian society, and so, the people resented Peter and his attempts at reform. His reforms were extremely invasive in many areas, which is another reason the Russians resented them. For example, he went so far as to decree how wide cloth should be when it was woven, how shoes were manufactured and what products were used in their manufacture, how hemp was processed, and on, even to what people wore and how they wore their hair (Raeff 25-28).

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His intentions were good, but he went about some reforms the wrong way, which did not endear him to his people. He also created so many reforms, edicts, and laws, that it was difficult to keep track of them all, and many of his reforms died when he died, not strong enough to hold up on their own.

Sadly, Peter died at the age of 52 in 1725, just four years after his victory over Sweden. Had he lived longer, the reforms in Russia might have been even more broad and forward reaching. However, many people in Russia breathed a sigh of relief when he died. Many of his reforms were controversial, and his behavior was sometimes bizarre and unpredictable. He did however, modernize Russia, create a breathtaking city named in his honor, and helped gain control of new territories for the Russian Empire. He was a controversial ruler, but he was indeed, Peter the Great, to be remembered for the many things he did to improve Russia during his lifetime, including envisioning and creating the great city of Saint Petersburg, and essentially removing leadership from the Russian Orthodox Church......

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