Catherine The Great

Essay by PaperNerd ContributorHigh School, 12th grade February 2002

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Catherine the Great was a supreme monarch who rivaled archaic notions and implemented new ideas that best captured the spirit of the Enlightenment. As a German princess from a relatively modest background, Sophie married the future Peter III of Russia at age 15.

Adopting the Orthodox faith, she then changed her name to Catherine. After a year of becoming emperor, Peter was murdered and Catherine became empress in 1762. She sought to continue Peter the Great's plan to introduce Russia to Western European culture.

Catherine began her reign with great projects of reform in mind. She especially valued education and the arts. Thus, she set up public and private schools throughout Russia, and the University of Moscow received a huge degree of respect. As a patron of art and writing, Catherine gave unparalleled support to the leaders of the Enlightenment such as Voltaire and Diderot. She funded much of Diderot's philosophical writings and even provided him a living space where he could be undisturbed.

She often corresponded with the Encyclopedists and greatly respected their ideas. Through this enthusiasm, Catherine quickly transformed Petersburg into an integral part of European culture.

In addition, she developed new political perspectives. She personally rewrote laws and codes. These new laws encouraged criticism of political and social problems and abolished censorship via the printing press. She split the country into provinces, granting nobles the power to control their designated province.

Although Catherine the Great brought Enlightenment into Russia, she did not improve the lives of the majority of her subjects "“ the serfs. In fact, she granted nobles absolute power over serfs and excluded them from all new laws. During the dawn of the French Revolution, Catherine the Great also retracted many rights she granted for fear of rebellion.

Catherine the Great made many advancements throughout...