Catherine+the+Great

Catherine the Great || 1729-1796 || **__Title:__** Catherine the Great / Catherine II || Russia || **__Years in Power__** 1762-1796 || -decades of weak rule after the death of Peter the Great in 1724, dominated in part by power plays among army officers who guided the selection of several ineffective emperors and empresses -tsardom was weak -no major new policy directions were set -territorial expansion continued with several clashes with the Ottoman Empire || -resumed Peter the Great’s interest -flirted with the ideas of the French Enlightenment, importing several French philosophers for visits and patronizing the arts and sciences -tried to avoid cultural influence from the West || -resumed campaigns against the Ottoman Empire while winning new territories in central Asia, including the Crimea, bordering the Black Sea -strictly enforced serfdom -centralized Russia and created strong power in tsarist hand -“Instruction of 1767” demonstrated that she was a selective westernizer -discussed new law codes and other Western-style measures, including reduction of traditionally severe punishments || -serfdom kept nobles loyal to the ruler || **__Long-Term Effects__** -serfdom put Russia into a corrupted state ||
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