It was no accident that Peter Γs extensive reforms coincided with Russia’s first modern war.
The Great Northern War and, more specifically, the early defeats suffered by the Russians precipitated these reforms. With their comparatively advanced technology, systematically trained troops and excellent support services, the Swedes had one of the most effective armies in Europe.
However, only the mobilization and integration of all the resources and efforts of Sweden’s two million people allowed its armies to attack not only Russia (which was about six times larger in terms of population) but Saxony, Denmark and the Commonwealth as well. For Peter I to compete with the Swedes meant to imitate them. Not only his army but also the society that supported it would have to be reorganized. For the Tsar’s subjects this would make the war doubly painful: its demands and duration would totally exhaust them, and the radical reforms would leave them confused and insecure.
More on the topic It was no accident that Peter Γs extensive reforms coincided with Russia’s first modern war.:
-
Conflictology -
Ecology -
Economy -
Finance -
History -
Law -
Medicine -
Philosophy -
Religious studies -