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Peter I, or Peter
the Great (1672-1725), was one of the most outstanding rulers
and reformers in Russian history. He was at first a joint ruler
with his weak and sickly half-brother, Ivan V, and his sister,
Sophia. In 1696 he became a sole ruler. Peter I was Tsar of
Russia and became Emperor in 1721. As a child, he loved military
games and enjoyed carpentry, blacksmithing and printing. He was
first married at the age of 17.
Peter I is famous
for carrying out a policy of 'westernization' and drawing Russia
further to the East that transformed Russia into a major
European power. Having travelled much in Western Europe, Peter
tried to carry western customs and habits to Russia. He
introduced western technology and completely changed the Russian
government, increasing the power of the monarch and reducing the
power of the boyars and the church. He reorganized Russian army
along Western lines.
He also
transferred the capital to St. Petersburg, building the new
capital to the pattern o/European cities.
In foreign
policy, Peter dreamt of making Russia a maritime power. To get
access to the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Azov Sea and the
Baltic, he waged wars with the Ottoman Empire (1695—1696), the
Great Northern War with Sweden (1700-1721), and a war with
Persia (1722-1723). He managed to get the shores of the Baltic
and the Caspian Sea.
In his day, Peter
I was regarded as a strong and brutal ruler. He faced much
opposition to his reforms, but suppressed any and all rebellion
against his power. The rebellion of streltsy, the old Russian
army, took place in 1698 and was headed by his half-sister
Sophia. The greatest civilian uprising of Peter's reign, the
Bulavin Rebellion (1707—1709) started as a Cossack war. Both
rebellions aimed at overthrowing Peter and were followed by
repressions.
Peter I played a great part in Russian history. After his death,
Russia was much more secure and progressive than it had been
before his reign.
Translate the
following sentences into English.
1. Петр Великий был одним из выдающихся правителей и
реформаторов в русской истории, который сначала правил совместно
со своим сводным братом и сестрой Софьей, затем стал править
самостоятельно, а позже стал императором России.
2. Петр I осуществлял политику «вестернизации», пытался
продвинуть Россию дальше на Восток и ввел западную технику.
3. Он превратил Россию в ведущую европейскую державу и попытался
перенести европейские обычаи и образ жизни в Россию.
4. Петр I усилил власть монарха, ослабил власть бояр и церкви и
реорганизовал русскую армию по западному образцу.
5. Он мечтал превратить Россию в морскую державу и вел войны с
Оттоманской империей, Швецией и Персией.
6. Он столкнулся с сильной оппозицией своим реформам, но
подавлял любые восстания против своей власти, и в свое время
считался сильным и жестоким правителем.
7. За крупнейшим гражданским восстанием во время правления Петра
последовали репрессии.
1. Peter the Great was one of the outstanding
rulers and reformers in Russian history, who first was a joint
ruler with his half-brother Ivan V and his sister Sophia, then
became a sole ruler, and later Emperor of Russia.
2. Peter I carried out a policy of' westernization', tried to
draw Russia further to the East and introduced western
technology.
3. He transformed Russia into a major European power and tried
to carry western customs and habits to Russia.
4. Peter I increased the power of the monarch, reduced the power
of the boyars and the church and reorganized Russian army along
the Western lines.
5. He dreamt of making Russia a maritime power and waged wars
with the Ottoman empire, Sweden and Persia.
6. He faced much opposition to his reforms, but suppressed any
and all rebellion against his power, and he was regarded in his
day as a strong and brutal ruler.
7. The greatest civilian uprising of Peter's reign was followed
by repressions.
Из пособия "ЕГЭ. Английский язык.
Устные темы" Занина Е.Л. (2010, 272с.) - Part
two.
Additional topics.
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