Russia in the Age of Peter the Great

Peter the Great, often known as the Tsar Reformer, initiated a programme of modernization and Westernization that affected the lives of all his subjects. He founded a new capital, St Petersburg, which became a symbol of cultural change, and a navy, which signalled Russia's emergence as a maritime power. He also reinforced the old institutions of serfdom and autocracy. This book - a history of Peter and the Russia he goverend - examines the impact of a man was both acclaimed as the architect of the New Russia and condemned as a crude despot who sacrificed cherished traditions for the sake of international success. Drawing on previously unavailable sources, Lindsey Hughes provides an account of one of the most significant periods in Russian history. She proceeds thematically, discussing Russia's foreign policy, the army and navy, economy, governing institutions, society, arts, education and religion.