I. Read the text and render the information presented in it in six sentences.

Peter implemented sweeping reforms aimed at modernizing Russia. Heavily influenced by his western advisors, Peter reorganized the Russian army along European lines and dreamed of making Russia a maritime power. He faced much opposition to these policies at home, but brutally suppressed any and all rebellions against his authority. Further, Peter implemented social westernization in an absolute manner by requiring courtiers, state officials, and the military to shave their beards and adopt Western clothing styles.

To improve his nation’s position on the seas, Peter sought to gain more maritime outlets. His only outlet at the time was the White Sea at Arkhangelsk. The Baltic Sea was at the time controlled by Sweden in the north, while the Black Sea was controlled by the Ottoman Empire in the south. Peter attempted to acquire control of the Black Sea, but to do so he would have to expel the Tatars from the surrounding areas. He was forced, as part of an agreement with Poland, which ceded Kiev to Russia, to wage war against the Crimean Khan and against the Khan’s overlord, the Ottoman Sultan. Peter’s primary objective became the capture of the Ottoman fortress of Azov, near the Don River. In the summer of 1695 Peter organized the Azov campaigns in order to take the fortress, but his attempts ended in failure. Peter returned to Moscow in November of that year, and promptly began building a large navy. He launched about thirty ships against the Ottomans in 1696, capturing Azov in July of that year. On September, 12 1698, Peter officially founded the first Russian Navy base, Taganrog.

Peter knew that Russia could not face the Ottoman Empire alone. In 1697, he traveled incognito to Europe on an 18-month journey with a large Russian delegation –the so-called “Grand Embassy” – to seek the aid of the European monarchs. But he failed to complete the mission of creating an anti-Ottoman alliance and continued to travel across Europe.

In visiting Holland, Peter learned much about Western culture. He studied shipbuilding in Zaandam and Amsterdam, and later put this learning to use in helping build Russia’s navy during his rule. The Tsar helped with the construction of an East Indiaman especially laid down for him: Peter and Paul. During his stay the tsar engaged many skilled workers such as builders of locks, fortresses, shipwrights and seamen.

In England he met with King William III, visited Greenwich and Oxford, was painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller and saw a Royal Navy Fleet Review at Deptford. He also traveled to the fledgling city of Manchester to learn the techniques of city building he would later use to great effect at Saint Petersburg. Then the Embassy went to Leipzig, Dresden and Vienna. The visit of Peter was cut short in 1698, when he was forced to rush home by a rebellion of the streltsy. The rebellion was, however, easily crushed before Peter returned home from England; of the Tsar’s troops, only one was killed. Peter nevertheless acted ruthlessly towards the mutineers. Over 1200 of the rebels were tortured and executed, and Peter ordered that their bodies be publicly exhibited as a warning to future conspirators. The streltsy were disbanded, and the individual they sought to put on the Throne – Peter’s half-sister Sophia – was forced to become a nun.

Peter’s visits to the West impressed upon him the notion that European customs were in several respects superior to Russian traditions. He commanded all of his courtiers and officials to cut off their long beards – causing his Boyars, who were very fond of their beards, great upset – and wear European clothing. Boyars who sought to retain their beards were required to pay an annual beard tax of one hundred rubles. He also sought to end arranged marriages, which were the norm among the Russian nobility, because he thought such a practice was not only barbaric but also led to domestic violence since the partners usually resented each other in this forced union.

In 1699, Peter also changed the celebration of New Year from 1 September to 1 January. Traditionally, the years were reckoned from the purported creation of the World, but after Peter’s reforms, they were to be counted from the birth of Christ. Thus, in the year 7207 of the Old Russian calendar, Peter proclaimed that the Julian calendar was in effect and the year was 1700.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_the_Great]

 

II. Match the following words with the words in bold from the text and use them in the sentences of your own:

1) осуществлять

2) завершить миссию

3) предполагаемый

4) участник мятежа

5) подавлять

6) вести войну

7) превосходящий

8) негодовать, возмущаться

9) заговорщик

10) расформировать

11) выгонять, изгонять

12) сдавать, отдавать

13) выход

14) придворный, подхалим

15) ежегодный

16) морская держава

17) военно-морской флот

18) искать помощи

19) принять

20) варварский

21) недавно построенный, новый

22) прервать

23) основная цель

III. Quick quiz:Work with a partner and write a list of ten questions (with answers on the other side of the paper) about Peter’s early reign. Then take turns quizzing each other.