Peter The Great

Generally considered to be one, leading Russian Tsar, Peter the Great of political development "west" of his that he instituted a major factor that turned Russia into a strong country.
Peter was born in 1672 in Moscow, the only son Tsar Alexis by his second wife Natalia Narishkina. Peter had not yet reached the age of four
when his father died. Since Alexis had thirteen children from his first wife, taklah wonder if there is a long struggle even harder to fight the crown. In any event, the young Peter must leave the country for life. Over the years Sophia, Peter's half-brother became ruler while because Peter was too young. And just after the year 1689, when he released the position that Peter became a safe position.

Russia in 1689 is a backward country, centuries behind Europe in almost all aspects. Cities much less than in the West. Slavery is rampant, and indeed, the number of slaves increase steadily and rights-human rights decreased. Russia did not experience both the Renaissance and the Reformation. Priest-pastor stupid; literature barely existed; math and science can not be ignored and considered it was no use. In contrast to Western Europe in which Newton wrote that he had just had a Principia and in which literature and philosophy evolved, Russia will look like the middle of the century the country, stupid, nursing.

Years 1697-1698, Peter made the long trip to Western Europe, a journey that sets the tone in the later years of his reign. Peter brought about 250 people with him in a "giant mission" is. By using a pseudonym (Pyotr Mikhaylov) Peter could see many things that he could not see no way. Peter was on his way to work at a particular time as a carpenter at the "Dutch East India Company" in the Netherlands. He also worked at the dock in the British Navy, and he studied at the Prussian arms affair. He visited factories, schools, museums, stadiums and even look at the British parliament. In short, he learned as much as he could get from the Western culture, science, culture, industry, and administrative procedures.

Year 1698 Peter returned to Russia and develop long-term plans concerning the renewal, the country modernize and westernize Russia to promote the introduction of Western technology and techniques, many carrying technician Peter Western Europe to Russia. He also sent a teenager to study in Russia for Western Europe. During his reign Peter stimulating industrial development and trade. Under his rule, the cities grow and multiply bourgeoisie in number and influence.

And in the reign of Peter, the Navy built in the proper size. More than that, his army changed according to the Western European style, modern armed beruniform and military exercises in Western Europe was institutionalized. Peter also made various changes in the sector of civil administration, including sensitive reforms of civil service improvement, based his work in the office, not by the rank of offspring.

In any social problems Peter encourages Westernization. He instructed that all beards shaven (although the latter instruction was changed) and all the men in court are required to dress western, recommend stop smoking and drinking coffee. Despite the many proposals that time, he suggested to meet the challenge of persistent, long-term political cause Russian aristocrats eventually develop ways and culture of Western Europe.

It is not surprising that Peter thinks the Russian Orthodox Church is a backward reactionary forces. Peter managed to partially re-organized the Orthodox Church and may oversee moderation. Peter founded the secular school in Russia and encourage scientific progress. He also introduced the Julian calendar and modernizing the Russian alphabet. In his reign, the first newspaper published in Russia.

In addition to the innovations he did in the country, Peter involved in foreign policy has important consequences in the future. Below it, Russia was involved wars with Turkey in the south and the north of Sweden. With Turkey at the beginning of the war he received a successful capture the port of Azov in 1696, thus presents a way out for Russia to the Black Sea. However, later in his reign, too, Turkey can be the wind in battle and in 1711 Russia forced Turkey to return the port of Azov.

In the war against Sweden, a series of events took place on the other hand, lost in the beginning, but prevail in the end. Russia joined in 1700 by Danish and Saxony launch an attack against Sweden, who was a strong domestic military potential. (Poland was then declared war against Sweden). In the battle of Narva in 1700, damaged the Russian army crushed. After this battle, the King of Sweden turned into another enemy. Meanwhile Peter rebuild the Russian army. After it broke out again battle between the Russian-Swedish. And in Poltava, in 1709, Swedish armies decisively defeated.

Successful regions derived from the war, including Russia (roughly) Estonia and Latvia, as well as some areas near Finland. Despite the capture of the area is not so large, but has significance because it gives Russia a way out into the Baltic Sea that people call the "window of Europe." On the banks of Neva river, on land once occupied by Sweden, Peter built a new city, St. Petersburg (now called Leningrad). Year 1712 he moved the capital from Moscow to it. After that St. St. Petersburg became the meeting point between Russia with Western Europe.

Various Peter domestic politics and war with foreign parties, of course, a lot of money and can not be avoided anymore cause withdrawal additional taxes. Both higher taxes and reforms itself to make the Russians angry and broke into several rebellions, but all Peter was crushed without mercy. Although he had many opponents in his time, either now or historikus Western European Communists agreed that Peter was a great Russian Tsar.

Personality is an attractive appearance., He's big (at least 6 feet 6 inches) strong, handsome and passionate. He's a fiery, fierce, temper, spirit ablaze. And like the joke though crude humor seriously. Sometimes he's a lot of drinking and this made him violent. In addition to dexterity in the field of military and political, Peter had learned carpentry; printing, navigation, and fabrication of ships. Indeed a special king! If necessary, lest he might be a builder!

Peter married twice. Married to his first wife - Eudoxia - when the age of seventeen. Their family life, only a week and when he was twenty-six years of his wives sent to the monastery. Year 1712 dicerainya Eudoxia and Peter married again with another woman. His second wife - Cathrine - is a girl from Lithuania, a girl from an ordinary family. From his first wife have a son Peter, Alexis. However, Peter and his son to do bad. Year 1718 Alexis was arrested on charges of conspiring to overthrow Peter. He was not only arrested but also tortured and died in prison in St. St. Petersburg early in 1725 at the age of fifty-two years. He was succeeded by his widow - Catherine - (do not be mistaken with Catherine the Great).

Peter the Great is listed this book because it plays an important role westernize and modernize Russia. However, because the rulers of various countries also made similar steps, one worth asking on what basis Peter included in this book list, while many others, not.

It is very true that today, in the 20th century, most heads of state to see the importance for people to accept Western ways, especially in scientific and technological sectors. But in the year 1700, the tendency westernize is a new thing for most people outside Europe. What make Peter so important is that he was two centuries ahead of its time in terms of catching the need westernize and in terms of modernizing the country. Because foresight Peter, the Russian who was at the level of the backward country, able to leap forward over most of the countries in the world. (But, no matter how quickly he developed that has been carried to Europe in the 18th century and the 19th, Russia was unable to match Western Europe).

Contrary to Turkey, one other important countries in the eastern border of Europe, which is also interesting. Turkey and Russia both "half of Europe." In the two centuries immediately after the reign of Peter, Turkey is more advanced in terms of military rather than Russian, as well as economy and culture. (For this, Turkey is far more advanced than the Russians throughout history). However, there is no Sultan of Turkey in about 1700 to realize the importance of acceleration of Westernization and no one pushed his country toward it. Therefore, while Russia, since the days of Peter and then, speeding the step of modernization, Turkey only do so little progress. New in the 20th century, Kemal Ataturk led Turkey to accelerate modernization program. At that time, the supervision of the Central Asia Russia was fairly steady and Russia are more advanced both in terms of both industrial and educational aspects.

Now, of course, we naturally think of Russia to surpass the power of Turkey. However, if the reform was not Peter the Great but the Sultan of Turkey, then Turkey may well be a driving force today and almost certainly controlled what is now called the Soviet Central Asia. (Population Muslim area and closer relationship with Turkey than with Russia). Although Russia has occupied the largest part of Siberia before Peter the Great, the region likely drawn Turkey or China or Japan, if only he had not made the renewal and modernization programs to strengthen Russia.

Peter the Great not only with the current ruler, but the people who stood in front of his era. View far into the future is likely to change the course of history and dividing it into the path we can not trace. For this reason, it is clear to me that Peter could deserve a place in this book list.

In terms of determining where the order of Peter, I was somewhat affected by the comparison between him and Queen Elizabeth I of England. Elizabeth is also more famous, especially in the West. But, I thought I would have difficulty convincing the Russians - even the most moderate though - that Elizabeth was more influential than Peter the Great. Peter is much more a soul renewal, far more original. When Elizabeth some consensus terpokoknya just doing what people want, Peter led his people to the department that they never imagined. The difference in level between the two could even greater if England do not play a more important role than that done Russia. Michael H. Hart,One hundred most influential figures in the history.