Peter the Great DBQPeter the Great was tsar of Russia from 1682 to 1725. During his reign, Peter the Great made many reforms to Russia socially, militarily, and economically. These changes proved to have a positive effect on Russia, making his reign one of the greatest.
As the tsar of Russia, Peter the Great enforced many social reforms. He was very influenced by Western European ideas and incorporated many of them into Russian society. Throughout their history, Russian males wore long beards. After viewing European styles, Peter declared that all men, except peasants and priests were to cut off their beards and if they refused, they were to pay one hundred rubles a year. Peter also passed a reform of proper attire for Russians. Nobles originally wore long garments that had touched the floor but Peter abolished this and ordered them to be influenced by French style fashion and accessorize their clothing with gold or silver jewelry.
Peter I, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias (...
English: Fleet of Peter the Great (1909) by Eugene...
Portrait of young Peter I of Russia. Parsuna of XV...The rest of the men were told of the new fashions and were expected to follow these styles. Women also had a change in appropriate appearance. The new chosen way of dress was very similar to the English. Jean Rousset de Missy writes in the Life of Peter the Great, "The dress of women was changed, too. English hairdressing was substituted for the caps and bonnets hitherto worn; bodices, stays, and skirts, for the former undergarmentsâ¦." (Document 2) Peter also took the European idea of women choosing who they wish to marry rather than their parents assign their husbands for them. These social changes were some of the many that began to modernize Russia.
Peter the Great is credited with greatly improving Russia's military. He established the first Russian navy in 1696. Before his rule, the Russian Army was very limited. He rearranged...