In the 18th and 19th centuries Russia saw six reigns of at least twenty years: Peter I, Elizabeth, Catherine II, Alexander I, Nicholas I and Alexander II

In the 18th and 19th centuries Russia saw six reigns of at least twenty years: Peter I, Elizabeth, Catherine II, Alexander I, Nicholas I and Alexander II

Introduction

Russia

Russia forms an arc around much of the North Pole, extending east to west half way across the globe, and stretching 2,500 miles north to south. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia still remains by far the largest country on earth, spanning 11 time zones. Encompassing most of north Asia, Russia has 14 international land borders, second only to China.

History (18th-19th centuries)

The Romanovs family ruled Russia during 18th and 19th centuries. Their era ended in 1917. During these two centuries, Russia faced six reigns comprising of at least 20 years each. These reigns were ruled by the following rulers:

Peter the great

Elizabeth Petrovna

Catherine the large (Catherine II)

Alexander I

Nicholas I

Alexander II

Thesis Statement

In the 18th and 19th centuries Russia saw six reigns of at least twenty years. These six rulers worked for the betterment and development of Russia. But these can be ranked from 1 to 6 according to the rate of contributions made by each of them.

The rankings are as follows:

Peter the great

Alexander I

Alexander II

Elizabeth Petrovna

Nicholas I

Catherine the Great (Catherine II)

Peter the great (1672-1725)

Peter I, the Great, consolidated monocracy in Russia and played a foremost role in bringing his country into the European state system. It extends the Eurasian landmass from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean. Much of its expansion had taken location in the 17th century. Peter was deeply awed by the superior technology, war craft, and statecraft of the West. He studied modern strategies and reinforcements and built a strong army of 300,000. He became the first Russian prince to ever visit the West, in 1697-1698, where he and his associates made a profound impression. In celebration of his conquests, Peter assumed the title of emperor as well as tsar, and late in 1721, Muscovite Russia officially became the Russian Empire.

He was firmed to give Russia a channel in the sea, both on the Baltic Sea, which was powered by Sweden, and on the Caspian Sea, whose shores were held by the Turks and Tartars. He brought European shipbuilders to Russia, and in 1696, with a new fleet, was adept to capture Azov, the chief Turkish fortress on the ocean of Azov. As Capt. Peter Alekseevich, he instructed from the Principium, a ship built by his own hand.

Peter also modernized and organized his country, internally. He implemented modifications and forced his subjects to obey the rules. He introduced factories, founded a navy, organized a modern army and restructured the administrative machinery. He formed a new Russian capital St. Petersburg on the Gulf of Finland.

The lack of transportation infrastructure was a major problem. The roads there ran east to west only, which were difficult to pass through, particularly during the Russian ...