How Did Peter The Great Rise To Power

When Peter the Great came to power in the 1700s, the era of darkness that had shadowed Russia since Ivan the Terrible left it in shambles lifted. Under Peter, a new Russia emerged, propulsed by his modern policies and western ideologies. Although Peter the Great was famous for his excessive cruelty, ultimately the drastically reformed society and its institutions to strengthen Russia’s position in Europe. He established Russia as a military force, westernized the sciences, arts, and culture, and introduced unconventional methods to restructure distribution of political power in Russia.
Peter’s childhood war games gave rise to his passion for war and its many tactics and strategies. As a boy, Peter was somewhat obsessed with his little games
Though he faced stiff opposition from groups such as the Streltsy, Peter was firm in his belief that these reforms would lift Russia up to a higher position in the world, and potentially form her into a world power. These reforms covered many areas, ranging from shaving to the church. They usually applied to any and all of Russia’s citizens, and were enforced not by a roving band of mercenaries, like in the time of Ivan the Terrible, but in a far more docile form of compliance - fines. This is shown to be true of most laws, as shown in Peter’s Decree on Wearing German Clothes, where it reads, “And if contrary to this the Great Sovereign’s decree some people wear such Russian … clothes and ride in Russian saddles, the town gatekeepers are to exact a fine from them,” Though, a different, slightly more severe punishment is referenced in Peter’s Decree on Shaving, wherein it states, “And whosoever does not wish to do so, but to go about with [traditional Russian] beard and mustache, is to pay a [hefty] fine… and from the peasants a [small] toll is to be exacted everyday at the town gates, without which they cannot enter or leave the town....” Peter’s westernization also included reforms to politics, to the dismay of some nobles and