St. Petersburg (Russia, not Florida)

John Andrade

W Europe- very accessible to water Ports on Atlantic, Mediterranean, North

Sea, etc. Allowed for aquatic trade Trade by water = more contact +

cultural diffusion w/ outside world

East vs. West- Land vs. Water

E Europe- virtually landlocked Only large bodies of water were Baltic +

Black Seas, which weren’t available to every country

Main form of trade was by land Land trade = more difficult less contact

with outside world ISOLATION

East vs. West- cont’d

Because of different levels of contact w/ outside world, two very distinct cultures emerged

Culturally separated by the Elbe-Trieste Line ◦ Imaginary line east of Italy

W Europe- much more modern society◦ Mercantilist economy◦ Strong CENTRALIZED government◦ Beginnings of democracy starting to come up

Cultural Differences

E Europe- more “behind”◦ Still in feudalistic stage◦ Local lords had power as opposed to national

monarch lack of centralization◦ Leaders envied Western rulers w/ absolute power

(e.g. Louis XIV)

Cultural Differences, cont’d

Hemmed into Europe◦ Swedes controlled Baltic, Ottomans controlled

Black Sea no access to water besides rivers whatsoever

◦ Kept Russians from developing a strong economy like that of Western nations

Had a tsar, but lacked the power of a Western monarch

Where Does Russia Come In?

Reigned 1682-1725 Had to deal w/ boyars and streltsy vying for

power◦ Boyars- old nobility◦ Streltsy- palace guards

1697- visited W Europe to see how those nations worked so well

Came back determined to make Russia a greater, modern power

Peter the Great

1 May 1703, during Great Northern War, Peter’s forces captured Swedish fortress on the Neva River

27 May 1703- lower downstream, made Peter and Paul Fortress = first building of new city

Built by serfs + Swedish prisoners of war◦ Many people died building city nicknamed “The

City of Bones” Became the capital of Russia 1712

The Founding of St. Petersburg

Peter wanted Russia to become more modernized

Founded city in the west, near the Baltic Sea to be closer to Europe

City meant to be a “window on Europe”◦ Shed light on and bring Western ideas to Russia

St. Petersburg, throughout time = WESTERNIZATION

This goal in mind until Russian Revolution in 1917

Purpose of the City?

1. Kagan, Donald, Steven E. Ozment, and Frank M. Turner. The Western Heritage: since 1300. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007. 438-46. Print.

2. "History of St. Petersburg, Russia: Peter the Great (short Biography)." St. Petersburg at Your Fingertips: City Guide and Travel Information Service. Web. 07 Nov. 2010. <http://www.cityvision2000.com/history/peterthe.htm>.

Works Cited