Peter the Great

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_the_great
• Expanded Russia enormously
• Muscovy was a princely state that gradually expanded in size
• He pushed back the neighbors who had blocked their expansion to Moscow
• Dreamed of controlling Constantinople 
• The first of the great Russian Czars to dream of controlling Constantinople
• They lost the fight for the Black Sea
• Forced to surrender for the Turks
• Russian participation in European affairs had been totally minimal
• From he 1620s-1740s, Russia expanded enormously
• Would have an tremendous effect on Europe and Asia
• He opened up Russia (no secular influences) to Western ideas
• He could do what he wanted as the Czar
• Childhood
• very curious
• very smart
• he traveled in order to learn more
• went to Europe
• was constantly sketching things
• very unorthodox
• was interested in cartography, math, and geography
• Tried to open up to commerce
• Trade---> Wealth----> Power
• Tension in Russia about westernization
• Peter had a very bad temper
• Occasionally executed people himself, and loved to torture people
• Harshest about treason
• He liked being with normal people and acting like them
• He refused to act like a Czar much of the time
• Very informal
• Russian culture was completely religious