Peter the Great: Tsar of Russia

Peter the Great ruled Russia at the turn of the eighteenth century and launched several reforms to transform Russia into a modern absolutist state on the European model. As tsar, Peter reformed the military, the calendar, the Russian Orthodox Church, and the civil service system (Table of Ranks). Most of Peter's reforms were targeted toward his two main goals: Westernization and Warm Water Ports. Peter, who spent several months building ships in Amsterdam while on his "European Tour," is known as the "Father of the Russian Navy."

This lecture was intended for my AP European History course, but will also be suitable to Western Civilization and World History courses.

CLICKABLE INDEX:

0:59 The letter W
1:14 Westernization
1:54 Warm water ports
2:57 Military reforms
3:19 Azov campaign
4:50 A national flag
5:28 Peter's european tour
7:41 Cultural revolution
8:37 Beard tax
9:28 Petrine education
10:05 Calendar reforms
11:02 Resistance to Westernization
11:57 The 3 entrenched classes
12:38 The streltsy rebellion & retribution
14:52 The church & reforms
17:32 Christian toleration of foreign religions
18:02 Turning the boyars into a service nobility & the table of ranks
19:06 The great northern war
20:14 Peter and Alexander: a comparison
20:50 St. Petersburg; a window to the west
22:30 Peter the carpenter (a hands on guy)
23:54 Peter's death in 1725, the Russian empire & conclusion

Check out my AP European History Review Playlist:

[hognigk]

Contents of this video

0:59 The letter W
1:14 Westernization
1:54 Warm water ports
2:57 Military reforms
3:19 Azov campaign
4:50 A national flag
5:28 Peter's european tour
7:41 Cultural revolution
8:37 Beard tax
9:28 Petrine education
10:05 Calendar reforms
11:02 Resistance to Westernization
11:57 The 3 entrenched classes
12:38 The streltsy rebellion & retribution
14:52 The church & reforms
17:32 Christian toleration of foreign religions
18:02 Turning the boyars into a service nobility & the table of ranks
19:06 The great northern war
20:14 Peter and Alexander: a comparison
20:50 St. Petersburg; a window to the west
22:30 Peter the carpenter (a hands on guy)
23:54 Peter's death in 1725, the Russian empire & conclusion

[Borderose]

Peter the Great is one of my historical heroes. The story of his "Toy Army" is my favorite part of his biography/legend. He was a man of contrasts: simple, but brilliant; conservative, yet progressive; personable and affable, but also capable of ruthless cruelty. Regardless of how one may want to criticize him--no one can deny that he was, without a doubt, "great".

[PinkPiratePickle]

Peter also adopted an African child named Abram, who later was nicknamed gannibal (hannibal) a very wise engineer and the great grand father of Pushkin .

[Zritel]

Hi, Tom. I'm from Russia, I just want to thank you for a very informative and interesting video, I not only enjoyed watching, but also learned a lot about Peter and history.

[andrewfreeman]

In Russia we call Peter's statue "The Copper Horseman" not bronze

[banwartchannel]

Can't tell you how informative, entertaining, and inspiring your videos are. I'm a HS early/modern western civ teacher, and these lectures are like a shot in the arm! I love it. Keep up the great work!

[Vaygor]

So basically Peter made Russia great again... Can we get that on a red MAGA cap?

[CalicoThat]

He wants to orient Russia towards Europe? Don't you mean he wants to occident Russia towards Europe?

[danicakate]

I would like to say thank you, Tom Richey! I started watching your videos when I learned I'm taking AP European History. Your videos really helped me pass AP Euro. also, I really love them, its very funny, entertaining and educational.
once again THANK YOU for making these video lectures. These videos are my Superman/Savior.

[afterburner]

They should call him Peter The Awesome from now on.

[haraldhonk]

Wow, it's friday and almost midnight here in germany and I'm watching a video about Tsar Peter the great. How did I get here?

Whatever, now I'm going to photoshop Tom Richey on a horse. Maybe going to take like a week or so if I'm going for a good resolution (= the resolution you use for large pictures with golden frames)

[sailaciagofren]

Кстати, насчет вестернизации. Петр проводил в детстве много времени в немецкой слободе. А кто-то задавался вопросом, откуда эта слобода взялась там, если Россия якобы повернулась лицом к западу только при правлении Петра? Эта слобода там была уже при Иване Грозном, а в Смутное время мы на восток, если кто помнит, вообще не смотрели. Сколько поляков-монархов сменили, а Польша - это явно не восток. Россия всегда была западной цивилизацией, на восток нас крутанули захватчики-монголы, чем обеспечили нам отсталость на всю оставшуюся жизнь.

[yewmunwong]

Thanks. I promise to be less sad and more awesome. I'll attribute my success not to Peter the Great but to you too. I'm from Singapore. It's a pity that our History lessons are based so much on Southeast Asia and so little on the World. Thank you, Tom.

[ameighable]

I've been to St. Peterburg. There's a way that most can afford it. There are companies that offer high school (and college) students really REALLY cheap trips with great tours. My 10 day stint in Russia cost $1700 in 1993. It included transportation, lodging, tours, and two meals a day. Tour of the Kremlin (for starters), hotel across the street from Red Square. Fun overnight train trip to St. Petes. Tour of the large (but simple) cabin in the woods. AMAZING fountains. I was invited because my local high school was two people short of qualifying for free tickets for the chaperones. I didn't go as a chaperone, but I accompanied the group on most of its outings. What a trip! Take it off your bucket list by finding those companies that organize these wonderful and affordable tours. I can't remember the name of the company that organized mine, but it isn't the only one.

[istateofmind]

Wasn't it Peter who seen his family killed by the Streltsy, thrown from their residence onto spikes below? They spared him because they didn't want to wipe out the Romanov bloodline completely. Think that's why he took a no nonsense approach to their rebellion.

[snuggz]

Thx Tom. My teacher made most of the videos we need created by you to watch during the corona virus school closures. you help me with all of the subjects we go through in history. Im in 7th grade btw.

[mariosgaroufalis]

The double headed eagle is a byzantine emblem

[seanphu]

You're better than my real teacher. XD

[michaelnp]

Peter did not bring Patrick Gordon to Russia. Gordon was there already when Peter reached maturity. Patrick Gordon fled from England, served in the Prussian and Swedish armies before joining the Russian army in the times of Peter's father. It is correct that Gordon was a great soldier and Peter indeed wept upon his death and later declared that the catastrophe at Narva would have had another outcome had Gordonhad the command of the Russian troops. In the 17th. century Russian suspicion towards foreigners was great but Gordon was very respected due to his services to the Russian state and thus not only Peter but many other Russians was stricken with grief when that great soldier died.

The history of Peter and Russia during this particular period is one of the most interesting periodes of European history in my opinion and I much enjoyed your video though there are some elements in your narrativ that I would have changed IF it was my video. :-)

[celinamontero]

your videos are amazing!I know that every time i have a quiz/test I HAVE to watch your videos. Very entertaining and the opposite of insipid. Thank you, Mr. Richey.