How systematic were Peter the Greats plans for meeting Russias needs and how effectively did he carry them out
When Peter inherited the throne in Russia in 1689, he was dismayed by its backwardness. His vision was to Westernise it. To answer the essay question, I first need to identify the needs of Russia. These were to improve the economy of Russia, to harness the support of the nobility, improve defence and administration, enhance diplomatic ties with the West, to secure ice free ports, and to improve education.Peter found answers to many of his problems in Russia by transplanting ideas from the West. When he said after his humiliation at Narva that Russia would learn from the Swedes how eventually to defeat them, he was expressing his underlying attitude to change. In 1697-1699, he went on a Grand Tour of England and Holland called the "Embassy to the West". This was for diplomatic and technological reasons - to harness support of the West against the Turks and bring back skilled workers to Russia. After visiting Versailles in 1717, Peter began to upgrade the courtly image, employing a variety of foreign artists and architects. However, his main emphasis was still practical, as shown by the fact that the most important building housed the Senate and Colleges, not court. Peter promoted direct contact with French, Dutch, German, and E
He was also determined to introduce new fashions, based largely on those in the West. Peter wanted to give Russia "good and solid institutions" and make her "a regulated state". Prokopovich wrote the 'Right of the Monarchical Will' in 1722 to justify Peter's absolutism. Like many of his successors, he concluded that ruthless reform was necessary to overcome Russia's backwardness. Peter had no clear system of government, expecting simply to give orders and for others to carry them out. Russia could not have emerged as the victor over Sweden at Poltava without Peter's military reforms. However, Peter aimed for a state-controlled church, which included complete overhaul of ecclesiastical administration and redirection of monastic revenues. It was also this 'iconoclastic attitude' which enabled him to respond positively to defeat at Narva in 1700 and convert the prospect of "immediate collapse into longer-term revival". The quality of life of the serfs was reduced and, by trying to Westernise Russia, some felt that Peter had permanently damaged the very fabric of traditional society by introducing alien ideas and institutions. Finance was often tight and officials unpaid. Throughout the reign Peter balanced the budget and raised all funds from domestic sources. He failed to raise the level of agriculture as backwardness, low productivity and wastage were still recurrent problems. Peter also planned to modernise the navy and increase its size. She could only have survived, weakened, and depleted. In addition, all institutions suffered from insufficient funding and an inadequate supply of teachers.
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Acceptance Essays
