Lydia Ciaffone

Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great
Catherine the Great was one of the most prominent rulers of Russia. During her rule from 1762
to 1796 the Russian Empress Catherine II made such progress in political power that it is hard to find
similar examples in world history. Catherine the Great was an absolute ruler because she expanded the
territory of the Russian Empire and improved its administration, following the policy of Westernization,
She cared about education, and was concerned with the economy. Many historians associate her with all
the significant events and trends in Russia's expanding world role. Though she always rejected the
appellation "the Great," it endured. She was often compared to Peter the Great. One of her
contemporaries described the essence of her rule, saying that Peter the Great created people in Russia,
and Catherine put her heart into them. She reformed Russia gradually and calmly finished what Peter had
done forcibly. She was introduced into the Lutheran Church, although she easily changed her religion to
the Russian Orthodox faith.
Catherine's major influences on her adopted country were in expanding Russia's borders and
continuing the process of Westernization, which Peter the Great introduced to Russia. During her reign
she extended the Russian empire southwards and westwards, adding territories which included the
Crimea, Belarus, the Black Sea and Lithuania. Agreements with Prussia and Austria led to three partitions
of Poland, in 1772, 1793, and 1795, extending Russia's borders well into central Europe. They were
assured by comprehensive victories over the Ottoman Turks in the two Russo-Turkish Wars. The Polish-
Russian War of 1792 led to the Partition of Poland and, together with victory in the Russo-Swedish war of
1788-1790, secured Russias Northern European flank. Like Peter the Great, Catherine supported
westernization, improving the Russian government through the influence of the west.
Catherine devoted much attention to expanding the country's educational facilities. She gave
serious consideration to various plans and in 1786 adopted one providing for a large-scale educational
system. Unfortunately she was unable to carry out the entire plan. But she did add a number of the
country's elementary and secondary schools, while some of the remaining points of her plan were carried
out by her successors. The arts and sciences received much attention too during Catherine's reign, not
only because she believed them to be important, but also because she saw them as a means by which
Russia could acquire a reputation as a center of civilization. Under her direction Saint Petersburg was
partly rebuilt and became one of the world's most dazzling capitals. With her encouragement, theater,
music and painting flourished, while, under her patronage, the Academy of Sciences reached new
heights. During her reign Saint Petersburg became one of the major cultural centers of Europe.
Foreign affairs began to demand Catherine's close attention. Catherine attempted to increase
Russia's power at the expense of its weaker neighbors, Poland and the Ottoman Empire. She sent troops
to help the Polish king Stanislaw in suppressing a nationalist revolt aimed at reducing Russia's influence
in Poland. The revolt was a major landmark in Catherine's reign. Deeply alarmed by it, she concluded,
along with most of the aristocracy, that the best safeguard against rebellion would be the strengthening of
the local administrative authority of the nobility rather than measures to improve the conditions of the
lower classes. Another one of Catherine's chief domestic concerns was the enhancement of Russia's
economic strength. To this end she encouraged trade by lifting various restrictions and promoting the
development of under-populated areas by attracting both Russians and foreigners to settle there. As for
general policy, Catherine understood that Russia needed an extended period of peace during which to
concentrate on domestic affairs and that peace required a cautious foreign policy. The able Count Nikita
Panin, whom she placed in charge of foreign affairs, was well chosen to carry out such a policy.
Catherine the Great was one of the most prominent rulers of Russia and a figure deserving of
admiration. During her rule from 1762 to 1796 the Russian Empress Catherine II made such progress in
political power that it is hard to find similar examples in world history. Catherine the Great was an
absolute ruler because she expanded the territory of the Russian Empire and improved its administration,
following the policy of Westernization, caring about education, and she was involved in trying to help the
economy.



http://russiapedia.rt.com/prominent-russians/the-romanov-dynasty/catherine-ii-the-great/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/catherine_the_great.shtml
http://departments.kings.edu/womens_history/catherine2.html
http://historyofrussia.org/catherine-the-great-biography/
http://www.angelfire.com/anime2/100import/catherine1.html