Peter the Great: Forging Russia's Empire

In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the transformation of Russia under Peter the Great. They explore his grand embassy to Western Europe in 1697-1698, where he traveled incognito to learn shipbuilding and military tactics. The conversation covers the brutal suppression of the Streltsy uprising, the founding of St. Petersburg on captured Swedish land in 1703, and the decisive Battle of Poltava in 1709 that established Russia as a Baltic power. They discuss Peter's radical reforms: the Table of Ranks, the introduction of the Julian calendar, the shaving of beards and Western dress codes, and the establishment of the first Russian navy. Lucas explains the significance of the Great Northern War against Sweden and the Treaty of Nystad in 1721, which gave Russia its 'window on the West.' The episode also touches on the construction of the Peterhof Palace and Peter's controversial legacy, including his torture and execution of his own son, Alexei. It's a story of relentless ambition, brutal modernization, and the birth of imperial Russia. #PeterTheGreat #RussianHistory #GreatNorthernWar #BattleOfPoltava #StPetersburg #TableOfRanks #Streltsy #Peterhof #TsardomOfRussia #SwedishEmpire #CharlesXII #Nystad #Westernization #RomanovDynasty #18thCentury #History #FexingoHistory #EasternEurope #TsarNicholasII #CatherineTheGreat Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo