The eighteenth century was a turning point in Russian history. At the end of the 17th century, for the great European powers, Russia was a distant and insignificant country at the very edge of the world. It had no political weight, no access to the sea, and did not claim to be a leading role in world politics. By the end of the next century, the situation in the political arena in Europe had changed dramatically.
The eighteenth century includes the reign of Peter I, the era of palace coups and the golden age of Catherine II. Such ups and downs in domestic policy led to the unevenness of its social and foreign policy development, but its general direction remained consistent with the reforms of Peter the Great.
It is difficult to separate the domestic and foreign policies of this period. Peter I planned to establish trade with European countries, for this access to the sea was necessary. So in 1700 the war with Sweden began. It ended only in 1721, after the signing of a peace treaty in the city of Nystadt, Russia received access to the Baltic Sea. But even during the war, it became clear that the country's industrial development did not allow large-scale European wars. This requires cannons, guns, ships and educated personnel. The war required the construction of factories, ships and the opening of educational institutions. By the middle of the century, 75 metallurgical plants were operating in Russia, which provided the country with the necessary pig iron and sent the metal for export. A combat and merchant marine fleet appeared and, thanks to a number of opened technical universities, its own military personnel.
The same line of development of the state was continued by Catherine II. After the bloody war of 1768-1774. Russia ousted the Ottoman Empire from the Black Sea region and gained access to the Black Sea. After the partition of Poland, the lands of the Right-Bank Ukraine and Belarus became part of the Russian Empire. As a result, the turnover increased several times, the number of manufactories increased, and new branches of production appeared. Thus, by the end of the 18th century, Russia from a distant insignificant state in the north became an empire playing one of the leading roles in international politics of that time.
The large-scale reforms of Peter the Great and Catherine II were little supported by the old nobility of the country. To strengthen the throne and imperial power, Peter I began to actively rely on the military class, distributing land for service. This is how the nobility appeared and began to strengthen. In the first quarter of the eighteenth century, the nobility was divided into personal and hereditary. All persons of this class were obliged to serve. Over time, the rights of the nobility expanded more and more. Lands and titles began to be inherited, and at the end of the century, service was no longer compulsory. The expansion of the rights of the nobility led to the enslavement of the peasants, and to several large-scale riots of the people.
Another feature of this century has been the secularization of social life. Peter I abolished the patriarchate and established a holy synod, while Catherine II decided to confiscate church lands. Church reform marked the beginning of the absolutist period in Russian history. By the end of the 18th century, under the influence of the ideas of Voltaire and Diderot, Enlightened Absolutism was established in the country. A secular culture began to develop in Russia, a theater appeared, Fonvizin wrote his comedies, sculpture and a ceremonial portrait appeared in the visual arts.
In this century, the country has chosen a path that is catching up with European countries, taking from them what it likes. This line of development influenced the consciousness of society, the development of culture, sciences and social thought.
