The Russian Empire

Peter the Great changed Russia from an isolated, backward nation into a major European power. Nearly 40 years after his death, another great ruler, Catherine the Great, carried on his ambition.

In 1682, aged just ten, Peter the Great (Peter I) became Tsar of Russia. At first, he ruled with his half-brother Ivan V. when Ivan died in 1696, Peter ruled on his own until 1725. Russia had been growing rapidly since 1639, but it was still backward compared with the rest of Europe. Peter was determined to change this. For 18 months he toured Europe, meeting kings and scientists, and people in industry, farming and ship-building. In the Netherlands, he even worked in a shipyard for a while. When he returned to Russia, Peter built up the navy and army, encouraged industries and farming, and built new roads and canals to help trade. Peter also acquired a Baltic coastline for Russia through war with Sweden. This gave Russia a seaport that was not ice-bound in winter. He moved Russia’s capital from Moscow to St Petersburg on the Baltic. When Peter died in 1725, Russia was more secure and advanced than it had been when he came to power.

In 1762, Catherine II (the Great) came to the throne.

Like Peter, she encouraged western ideas and gained territory for Russia, fighting the Ottoman empire in 1774 and 1790. She also claimed much of Poland. Conditions did not improve for the Russia serfs, however, and a revolt in 1773 was harshly put down.