Thursday, March 30, 2006
Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia
-Programs of Europeanization and modernization started under Peter I
-Empress Elizabeth reigned 1741-61
-German prince chosen as heir, Peter III
-German princess (Catherine) married to Peter in 1745.
--Catherine takes lovers and reads voraciously between 1745 and 1761.
-Peter III becomes czar in 1761 -- but a palace coup or revolution places Catherine on the throne instead.
--Autocratic rule
-Programs of Europeanization and modernization started under Peter I
-Empress Elizabeth reigned 1741-61
-German prince chosen as heir, Peter III
-German princess (Catherine) married to Peter in 1745.
--Catherine takes lovers and reads voraciously between 1745 and 1761.
-Peter III becomes czar in 1761 -- but a palace coup or revolution places Catherine on the throne instead.
--Autocratic rule
Foreign policy follows that of Peter I, the Great
-secure access to Black Sea
-expand westward to unite Slavic territories
-defend western territories
-Greek Project
"Enlightened Despotism"
-Nakaz or "Instruction" for the new Code of Laws of the Russian Empire
-good publicity from philosophes
-reform in industries
-reform in education
-support for the arts and sciences
# posted by Anne Good @ 10:43 AM 
