Enlightenment Russia, 1725–1796

Peter the Great transformed Russia before 1725. His changes to government, the Church, the nobility, and foreign policy

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Enlightenment Russia, 1725–1796

After Peter the Great died in 1725, Russia had no clear rule for choosing a new tsar. Two powerful groups — a noble coun

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Enlightenment Russia, 1725–1796

Tsarina Elizabeth seized power in 1741 and ruled Russia until 1762. She continued Peter the Great's drive to modernise R

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Enlightenment Russia, 1725–1796

After Peter the Great, the nobility gradually won freedom from compulsory state service. Meanwhile, serfs — peasants leg

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Enlightenment Russia, 1725–1796

Between 1725 and 1762, Russia pursued an ambitious foreign policy. It meddled in Polish politics, failed to take Crimea

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Enlightenment Russia, 1725–1796

By 1762, some of Peter the Great's modernising reforms had survived, but others had weakened or reversed. That year, Cat

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Enlightenment Russia, 1725–1796

Catherine the Great ruled Russia from 1762 and admired Enlightenment ideas about reason and reform. The French Revolutio

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Enlightenment Russia, 1725–1796

Catherine the Great tried to modernise how Russia was governed. She reformed its laws, its central Senate, and the way o

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Enlightenment Russia, 1725–1796

Catherine the Great reshaped Russian society by giving the nobility (gentry) greater power over land, expanding educatio

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Enlightenment Russia, 1725–1796

Serfdom — the system that legally tied peasants to a noble's land — survived throughout Catherine's reign. Its survival

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Enlightenment Russia, 1725–1796

Catherine the Great faced serious threats to her rule, including noble plots and a massive peasant uprising led by Emely

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Enlightenment Russia, 1725–1796

Catherine the Great fought wars against Sweden, the Ottoman Empire, and Poland. These wars expanded Russia's territory d

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Enlightenment Russia, 1725–1796

After Peter the Great's death in 1725, Russia entered a turbulent period of disputed successions and unstable rule befor

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Peter the Great and Russia, 1682–1725

In 1682, Russia was a poor, rigidly hierarchical country. A single ruler called the Tsar held absolute power, most peopl

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Peter the Great and Russia, 1682–1725

After the death of Tsar Fyodor III in 1682, Peter did not immediately rule alone. His half-sister Sophia acted as regent

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Peter the Great and Russia, 1682–1725

Peter deliberately copied ideas, technology, and customs from Western Europe to modernise Russia. His 1697–98 tour of Eu

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Peter the Great and Russia, 1682–1725

Before 1707, Peter launched sweeping reforms across Russia's economy, government, army, and society. He forced Russia to

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Peter the Great and Russia, 1682–1725

Two powerful groups resisted Peter's early rule. The Orthodox Church defended its traditional authority, and the Strelts

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Peter the Great and Russia, 1682–1725

Peter fought two major wars to win Russia access to the sea. He fought Turkey for a southern outlet and Sweden for a nor

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Peter the Great and Russia, 1682–1725

Peter overhauled Russia's economy and tax system to fund his wars and modernise the state. Historians debate how far the

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Peter the Great and Russia, 1682–1725

Peter restructured the Russian Orthodox Church so the Tsar controlled it directly. He replaced its independent leader wi

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Peter the Great and Russia, 1682–1725

Peter restructured how Russia was governed and defended. He replaced old noble councils with new state bodies, built a m

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Peter the Great and Russia, 1682–1725

Peter forced Russian nobles and officials to adopt Western European customs, dress, and manners. Historians debate how d

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Peter the Great and Russia, 1682–1725

Peter faced serious rebellions from soldiers, nomadic peoples, and Cossacks who resented his reforms. Even his own son A

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Peter the Great and Russia, 1682–1725

Peter fought major wars against Sweden and Turkey to win Russia access to the sea. These wars also pulled Russia into wi

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796

Peter the Great and Russia, 1682–1725

When Peter came to power, Russia was an economically backward country dominated by a rigid social hierarchy, with the ma

Russia in the Age of Absolutism and Enlightenment, 1682–1796