"History of Russia in 100 Minutes" is a crash course for beginners. Here you will find the complete history summarized and retold in simple language with accurate dates, the most relevant names and essential concepts. After finishing the course, you will know:

- The basic characteristics of Russian history in different epochs
- The 54 most important rulers and 106 historical persons in Russian history
- 126 key dates and events in Russian history
- The basic terms and concepts of Russian history

The text is accompanied by numerous online resources:
- 20,000 pictures
- 700 videos
- 3,500 songs
- 100 podcast episodes

All that is available via the smarthistories.com website.


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Narrated by: Sammi Bold
Written by: Tanel Vahisalu
Edited by: Madis Maasing and Kerry Kubilius
Proofread by: Tony Burnett
Graphic Art by: Mehak Zaib Suddle

Video:
"Peter the First” by Vladimir Petrov (1937)

Music:
"Tchaikovsky (Part II)" and "Crocodile Ghena's Song" (1995) by J.M.K.E.
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PETER THE GREAT

Until the 1700’s, Russia was, technologically, way behind the rest of Europe. One could say Tsar Peter I (Peter the Great) dragged the country, kicking and screaming, out of the Middle Ages. His reforms made Russia an international player for the first time in history.

BACKGROUND
Peter wanted to change Russia’s backwardness. His goal was a technologically advanced country, and for that, he turned his eyes to the West. He also wanted to introduce Western culture and mentality into Russia. For that, he was hailed by the Westernizers (in contrast to the Slavophiles), in Russian cultural history.

GREAT NORTHERN WAR
In order to open up the, “ …window to Europe,” Peter needed access to the ports of the Baltic Sea to participate in international trade and he also needed a navy to protect them.

After an extensive army reform, ship-building and industrialization, Russia broke Sweden’s domination over the Baltic Sea in the Great Northern War. In 1709, Peter defeated Swedish armies in the decisive Battle of Poltava on the soil of Ukraine. Peter also conquered the Eastern coast of the Baltic Sea, where many important port towns were situated.

REFORMS
Apart from the military industry, Peter also revolutionized Russian society. He made Russian nobility look, and act, like Europeans. The most important examples for his reforms came from the Netherlands and Sweden.

He made a universal, “Table of Ranks,” that allowed anyone to ascend the social ladder. The Boyar Duma was replaced by the, “Governing Senate,” (the inner circle of the Tsar). They introduced new taxes and subdued the church directly under the state. The first hospitals and museums were introduced.

In 1703, Peter began the construction of his new capital, Saint Petersburg, partially on the remains of the small Swedish town of Nyen near the Baltic Sea. Most of the new capital was situated in the middle of a swamp. The construction was undertaken by peasants who emptied the swamp, an operation that cost tens of thousands of lives. Thus, it is said, “… the city was built on bones.”

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