Essay about Catherine The Great

Known as The Golden Age in English history, the 45 year rule of Queen Elizabeth I turned the declining country of England, into one of the most powerful and prosperous countries in the world.

Recognized worldwide as a noteworthy historical figure, Catherine the Great was one of the most prominent rulers of Russia and a figure deserving of admiration. During her rule from 1762 to 1796 the Russian Empress Catherine II made such progress in political power that it is hard to find similar examples in world history. Catherine II was Empress of Russia for more than 30 years and one of the country’s most influential rulers .

Catherine, II, the Great was born in Stettin, a German city on April 21, 1729 to Prince Christian August of Anhalt-Zerost and Princess Johanna Elizabeth of Holstein-Gottorp. Catherine, whose original name was Sophie Friederike-Auguste married in 1762 to the czarevitch Peter of Russia, but soon disposed of him and seized control of the government. Catherine made many great changes during her reign and made many opportunities available to the people living in her country during the time. Although she was a woman in a country in a time when men had control over everything, she rose above, saw what she wanted, and took over what she wanted. She knew what she wanted and she went for it, she was an amazing ruler of her time period.

In the text, “Letter to Queen Victoria”, written by Lin Zexu in 1839, he implores the Queen of Great Britain, Queen Victoria, to stop her subjects from selling opium to the Chinese public. Zexu does so by exemplifying the past relationship of China and Britain, by moral persuasion, and by warnings and threats. However, Lin Zexu’s assumption of calling British subjects as Barbarian and compliant to Chinese rule ineffectively persuades.

He spent much of his childhood in the German district of the capital. There he became fascinated with the west. As an adult he toured Western Europe in an attempt to learn the latest advances in ship building as well as to campaign for a crusade against the Ottoman Empire. When he returned he continued to Westernize Russia . Some of his reforms are looked on by contemporary’s as overly fanatical for example he implemented a beard tax and forced social events to be mixed genders. ! He was the Master of bureaucracy. Peter I completely restructured the government on western models. He established a Privy Council staffed with his closest friends as well as organizing the senate in to different colleges. He secularized the government thus taking power away from the Russian Orthodox church. Peter also reorganized the army and defeated the Swedish empire in The Great Northern War. He then erected a new capital in the lands he gained and named it for his likeness Saint Petersburg. This city became an important trading hub because it had a warm water port and Russia could now trade overseas with the rest of Europe all year round. His wife Catherine succeeded him on his death in

During the Enlightenment period, Monarchy was one of the most common forms of government. In a Monarchy, the king or queen had complete control of their entire kingdom and its people. Many people including philosophers

With the increase in popularity of the musical Hamilton: An American Musical, the stories of the founding fathers are getting told. However, though there are a few females mentioned in the musical, none of them made as much of an impact and deserve as much credit as Abigail Adams. Born Abigail Smith in 1744, she grew up in Massachusetts with a decently wealthy family, which resulted in the opportunity to obtain a good education. Though she was schooled at home, she read all she could and took an interest in knowledge and politics early in her life, which only grew with her marriage to John Adams (Martinez). With this marriage, she became involved in a great deal of politics, and therefore had influence, which she most commonly used in her

After a failed coup of power from Sophia in 1689, by using the revolt of an armed force(streltsy) backfired, Peter took back by force his rightful title. Peter alongside his brother ruled from 1689 to 1696, but after Ivans death, Peter ruled by himself from 1696 to 1725. Although Peter’s rule of Russia was about of 36 years, 7 of those years being with Ivan, he was able to accomplish very much. In the summer of 1698, Peter was able to

Enlightened despotism is defined as "a form of government in the 18th century in which absolute monarchs pursued legal, social, and educational reforms inspired by the Enlightenment" (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica). The magnitude of the philosophy movement known as the Enlightenment sent ripples throughout Western society. The philosophers believed that in order to improve society they had to "enlighten" the monarchs. The views of the Enlightenment did to find their way inside the palaces of Europe's leaders; however, the monarchs retained their great power of absolute rule. Among these enlightened despots of the age were Frederick the Great of Prussia, Catherine the Great of Russia, and Joseph II of Austria. These leaders all attempted to bring their respective countries into a new age. The basis of enlightened despotism was the idea of improving the lives of a country's citizens. This concept of leadership during this time was ultimately a good idea, but it was not successfully exercised to its fullest extent.

Peter Alekseyevich Romanov was born, 9 June 1672, to the second wife of his father Tsar Alexis. Upon the death of his father in 1676 a bitter dispute of succession developed between the noble families of Tsar Alexis’s first wife, the Miloslavskiis, and that of second wife, the Naryshkins. The dispute culminated in a brutal attack on the Naryshkin family by the Streltsy1, in which Peter personally witnessed the murders of several members of his family and other nobility. After the rebellion an accord was reached that Peter and his half-brother Ivan would rule jointly under the regency of their sister Sophia, this would remain in effect for 7 years. Peter, not interested in the affairs of the state, travelled throughout Europe studying numerous crafts; having a particular proclivity for shipbuilding. He returned in 1688 and began to attend council meetings. In response Sophia ordered the Streltsy to kill Peter. However, Peter was warned and took shelter in a monastery while the Naryshkin family gained support. Sophia was exiled a month later and Peter’s mother placed as regent. In 1689 Tsar Feodor died leaving Peter, age seventeen, as the sole ruler. Despite the conflict, Sophia along with her Chief Minister, the well-educated and reform minded Prince Golitsyn, had laid the groundwork Peter’s future rule. An idea of a westernized, enlightened and influential Russian Empire was develop upon which Peter would later expand; though by very different

The name of Catherine Rooney's might make one think there is a person out there by that name. The reality is that there are two - two Irish mothers being immortalized by their daughters by providing a casual atmosphere and delicious food and drinks. So, toast to the mom's out there and enjoy live Irish music and traditional Irish cuisine.

Starting with a little bit about Catherine she came from a noble family in Florence Italy. Her parents were Lorenzo and Madeleine. Both of her parents died right after her birth, leaving her with all the

Catherine the Great was the German wife of Peter III. She corresponded actively with Voltaire and other prominent eighteenth-century thinkers, and paid lip service to their liberal ideas; but she did little to reform or modernize Russia. She introduced such western ideas as pleased her, at the same time increasing Russian autocracy and military power. In addition, she extended Russia's boundaries southward and westward. Catherine joined with Austria and Prussia in three partitions that completely eliminated independent Poland.

Born on 24 May, 1819 in Kensington Palace, Alexandrina Victoria was the only daughter of Edward, the Duke of Kent and Victoria Maria Louisa of Saxe-Coburg. At birth, Victoria was the fifth in line after her father and his three older brothers. Eight months after her birth, her father had died and she was the next in line as her three uncles before her had no legitimate children who survived. In 1830 after her uncle George IV died, she became heiress presumptive next to her surviving uncle, William IV. The Regency Act of 1830 made special provision for the Duchess of Kent to act as her regent just in case William died while Victoria was still a minor. King William in 1836 declared in the Duchess’ presence that he wanted to live until

The Enlightenment era was a heavy influence on the French Revolution to find ways to govern people in society after the absolute monarchy of King Louis XVI. The beliefs of the Enlightenment, including Locke’s “natural rights”, Voltaire’s free society; and Rousseau’s social contract and general will, ultimately swayed ideas towards to understanding aspects of life and