The first quarter of the 17th century in Russia was marked by transformations directly related to the "Europeanization" of the country. The beginning of the Petrine era was accompanied by serious changes in manners and way of life. They touched upon the transformation of education and other spheres of public life. All reforms were carried out at the first stage extremely hard, often by force. Consider further the main events of the Petrine era.
Prerequisites for reforms
It must be said that the active penetration of Western European values was noted in the country throughout the 17th century. However, the direction of this influence was changed precisely by the Petrine era. The 18th century was a period of introduction of new values and ideas. The key object of the transformation was the life of the Russian nobility. The intensity of the reforms was determined primarily by state goals. Peter the Great sought to transform the administrative, military, industrial and financial spheres. To do this, he needed the experience and achievements of Europe. He associated the success of state reforms with the formation of a qualitatively new worldview of the elites, the restructuring of the life of the nobility.
First experience
Peter's era was influenced by the Western way of life. The sympathy of the ruler of Russia appeared for European values in his youth. In his early years, Peter often came to the German Quarter, where he made his first friends. After his first visit abroad, he had the idea to transfer customs, institutions, forms of entertainment and communication from Europe to Russia. However, he did not take into account that all this would be perceived with certain difficulties, since the soil and organic background for this in the country had not been created. The Petrine era, in short, is associated with the forcible introduction of European values into Russian life. According to the records, the sovereign actually demanded that his subjects step over themselves and abandon the centuries-old traditions of their ancestors.
First transformations
If we talk about what the Petrine era was, briefly, then rapprochement with the West was expressed in the government's concern that people in Russia even outwardly resemble Europeans. After arriving from abroad, Peter ordered to bring scissors and cut off the beards of the shocked boyars himself. This operation was performed by the sovereign more than once. The beard for him became a symbol of antiquity. He negatively perceived her presence on the face of the boyars. Although the beard has long acted as an inviolable decoration, a sign of honor and generosity, a source of pride. A decree of 1705 obliged all men, except for priests and monks, to shave their mustaches and beards. Thus,society was divided into 2 unequal parts. One - the nobility and the elite of the urban population, which was under the pressure of Europeanization, while the other retained the usual way.
Painting
Artists of the Petrine era in their own way reflected the patterns of this historical period. I must say that painting as a whole reached a new level with a certain delay in comparison with other advanced countries. The art of the Petrine era becomes secular. Initially, the new painting is approved in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Prior to this, the masters painted only icons. The culture of the Petrine era demanded the image of solemn battles glorifying victories, portraits of the tsar and subjects. Russian engravers could only illustrate church books. At a new historical stage, views of St. Petersburg, engravings for textbooks on artillery, architecture and maritime affairs were needed. The culture of the Petrine era was freed from the power of the church, trying to catch up with European countries that had gone far ahead.
Reform specifics
Features of the culture of the Petrine era were manifested in a sharp transformation of the usual way of life of people. First of all, Russia began to join Western trends in painting. The transformations were carried out not only in order to attract foreign artists and craftsmen to the country. One of the key goals was the education of the domestic public, the introduction of the best European traditions. The training time for Russian masters did not last long. In the secondhalf of the 18th century The artists who returned from Holland and Italy showed the world their talent and acquired skills, starting to create magnificent masterpieces. The new painting was distinguished by an increase in interest in man. Much attention was paid to his inner world, and the structure of the body. Russian artists began to master the technical achievements of European masters. In their work they now use new materials: marble, oil, canvas. In painting, a direct perspective appears, capable of showing the volume and depth of space. The first artists of the new era were Matveev and Nikitin.
Engraving
She took a separate place in art in the first half of the 18th century. Engraving was considered the most accessible type of painting. She quickly responded to the events that took place in life. The range of subjects was reduced to portraits of great people, views of cities, battles, ceremonial events. The Petrine era gave Russia and the world such masters as Rostovtsev, Alexei and Ivan Zubov.
Miniature portraits
They also began to appear at the beginning of the century. The first authors were Ovsov and Musikisky. At first, miniature portraits of statesmen and their relatives were created. However, after a while, the demand for these works grew so much that a special class was created at the Academy of Arts in the last quarter of the 18th century.
Books
The literature of the Petrine era most clearly reflected the trends of the new time. In 1717, "Reasoning …" was published, which describedreasons for the war with Sweden. The publication was prepared by Vice-Chancellor Shafirov on behalf of the sovereign. This "Reasoning" became the first domestic diplomatic treatise on Russia's foreign policy priorities. Economic transformations were reflected in the works of Pososhkov. His most famous publication was The Book of We alth and Poverty. Feofan Prokopovich, a supporter of church reform, was a brilliant writer, orator, church and public figure in the Petrine era. He developed the "Spiritual Regulations", "The Truth of the Monarchs' Will". Another prominent figure was Stefan Yavorsky. He created such religious treatises as "The Stone of Faith", "The Sign of the Coming of the Antichrist". These writings were directed against Protestantism and reformism.
Entertainment
During the reforms, attempts were made to create public theaters in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Comedy and historical plays were staged on the stage (for example, Amphitryon and Dr. Enforced by Molière). The first domestic dramatic works began to appear. Thus, the Petrine era was marked by the creation of Prokopovich's tragicomedy "Vladimir", Zhukovsky's play "Glory of Russia". Changes in morals were manifested in the emergence of new types of entertainment. By the end of 1718, the elites of St. Petersburg society were informed about the introduction of assemblies. This idea was born by Peter after visiting French living rooms. They gathered and talked major political, scientific figures, painters andother members of high society. By establishing assemblies in Russia, Peter sought to accustom the nobles to secular behavior, as well as to introduce the women of the state to public life. In the process of organization, the reformer used both the practical and theoretical achievements of Europe. The decree, which regulated the order of meetings in the houses, provided a list of rules, described the schedule of entertainment that those present had to follow.
Chronology
"Utility" was the main idea that permeated the entire Peter's era. The years of the reign of the great reformer were marked by the introduction of a new chronology. Now the countdown was not from the creation of the world, but from the Nativity of Christ. The New Year started on January 1, not September 1. Holidays were also established. So, Peter introduced the New Year. His celebration was to be carried out from 1 to 7 January. At the same time, the gates of the yards should be decorated with spruce, pine and juniper trees or branches. In the evenings it was prescribed to burn bonfires along the large streets, and people who met were supposed to congratulate each other. Fireworks were arranged in the capital on New Year's Eve. Peter thus became the founder of many public holidays. Victory celebrations began to take place following the example of the triumphs of Rome. In 1769, in the celebrations of the victory at Azov, key elements of future events appeared. Roman signs were quite clearly visible in them. By order of the sovereign, triumphal gates were built.
Introducing women to social life
In carrying out his reforms, Peter did not take into accountthat the population is not quite ready for them. So, for example, it was extremely problematic for women to move away from the house-building way of life at one moment. However, the reformer showed concern for them. He told women how to behave, dress, and speak. At first, at the assemblies, according to the memoirs of contemporaries, Russian ladies, tightly drawn into corsets, could not only dance gracefully and easily, but also did not know how they should sit or stand. For the most part, they were clumsy, clumsy.
The meaning of the Petrine era
Transformations of the sovereign allowed the country to reach a qualitatively new level. First of all, the backlog of cultural and economic spheres from the advanced countries of Europe has significantly decreased. In addition, Russia began to turn into a great and powerful power. Due to the introduction of European values, the country began to be perceived in the international arena. Thanks to Peter's reforms, now not a single important event was decided without the participation of Russia. The changes that took place in the life of the state in the first quarter of the 18th century were very progressive. However, they further widened the gap between the nobility and the lower classes. Boyars have become a noble elite class. The use of cultural achievements and benefits has become only their privilege. All this was accompanied by the spread of contempt for the Russian language and ancient culture among the nobility. Many historians note that Europeanization intensified the negative cultural manifestations of pre-Petrine Russia. The innovations introduced were hard to perceive by the nobility. Often, transformations have provoked actions that are quite the opposite of what was expected. Politeness and courtesy by order could not become an internal need, they gave rise to rudeness and obscenity. The changes affected only the top of society. For a very long time after the end of the Petrine era, the Russian peasant did not go to the theater, did not read newspapers, did not know about the existence of assemblies. Thus, the reforms changed the social position of the privileged class towards the West, and the life of the lower classes - in the opposite direction, towards the East. On the one hand, transformations in the sphere of everyday life and culture formed the conditions for the development of education, science, and literature. However, many European values and stereotypes were transferred in a violent and mechanical way. This created significant obstacles to the full development of native Russian culture based on ancient national traditions. Representatives of the nobility, accepting European values, quite sharply departed from the people. The custodian of Russian culture, the Russian peasant, was attached to national traditions. And this connection of his only intensified in the course of the modernization of the state. As a result, a deep socio-cultural split in society began. All these phenomena largely predetermined the sharp contradictions and the strength of social upheavals that arose at the beginning of the 20th century.
Conclusion
Peter's transformations in the cultural, public sphere of the life of the state were distinguished by a pronounced politicalcharacter. Often the reforms were carried out by violent methods. People were forced to accept alien values, sciences. All this was done in the interests of the state, which was formed according to the strict orders of the monarch. The fundamental difference between the Russian Empire, created in a quarter of a century, should have been emphasized by the external attributes of the Petrine era. The reformer tried to give majesty to the state, to introduce it into international relations as a European country. That is why Western values were so actively introduced into life. The reforms affected absolutely all spheres of life of the nobles. In the early stages of innovation caused stiff resistance. However, disobedience to the monarch was not allowed. The elite classes had to obey and learn to live by the new rules. By introducing reforms, Peter sought to ensure that the nobility received practical European experience. Therefore, he often traveled abroad himself, sent his subjects abroad, invited foreigners to Russia. He sought to bring the country out of political isolation. In the era of Peter, a huge number of works of art appeared. Russian craftsmen, having adopted the experience and skills of Europeans, created masterpieces that later became known to the whole world. Significant changes were noted in the architecture. Despite the rather harsh introduction of innovations, Russia was able to get closer to Europe. However, as mentioned above, the reforms affected only the upper classes. The peasantry continued to be uneducated. The lower classes were the keepers of the ancient traditions and held them sacred. The personality of Peter is considered by many historianscontroversial. His reforms are also ambiguously perceived by researchers. His transformations affected not only customs and life, art and architecture. The military sphere and the administrative apparatus underwent significant changes. Many innovations are firmly rooted in the country. Subsequent generations improved the system created by Peter. The monarch has become a symbol of decisive transformations, fruitfulness and efficiency in the use of Western European achievements.
Peter did a tremendous job in the country. Despite the fact that he did not take into account many circumstances and features of the Russian mentality, historians admit that the state during his reign took a huge step forward. Society has become progressive, secular, educated, educated. The descendants of Peter the Great, one might say, are practically the only ruler who retained the title of Great, bestowed on him during his lifetime.
