Russia in the Age of Absolutism & Enlightenment

Using your understanding of the historical context, assess how convincing the arguments in these three extracts are in relation to Catherine the Great and the Enlightenment.

How important were Peter the Great’s military reforms to his foreign policy success?

To what extent did Russian society change during Peter the Great’s reign?

‘Catherine’s greatest foreign policy success was the partition of Poland.’

Assess the validity of this view.

Using your understanding of the historical context, assess how convincing the arguments in these three extracts are in relation to Catherine the Great and opposition.

To what extent did Peter the Great’s domestic reforms westernise Russia?

How important were financial and economic reforms to the success of Peter the Great’s foreign policy?

How effectively did the rulers of Russia maintain tsarist authority in the years 1725 to 1762?

Using your understanding of the historical context, assess how convincing the arguments in these three extracts are in relation to Peter the Great’s reforms of the Russian Church.

To what extent did the conservatism of Russian society hinder the development of the Russian economy in the reign of Peter the Great?

To what extent did the foreign policies of Russian rulers strengthen their country in the years 1725 to 1762?

‘The most important impact on Catherine the Great’s reforms to government and society after 1773, was the Pugachev Revolt.’

Assess the validity of this view.

Using your understanding of the historical context, assess how convincing the arguments in these three extracts are in relation to state service by the nobility in the years 1725 to 1762.

How important was Church opposition in limiting Peter the Great’s domestic reforms?

‘Peter the Great’s foreign policy towards Turkey was a complete failure.’

Assess the validity of this view.

To what extent were Catherine the Great’s social and economic policies influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment in the years to 1789?

Using your understanding of the historical context, assess how convincing the arguments in these three extracts are in relation to the development of the economy during the reign of Catherine II.

How influential was the Great Embassy on Peter the Great’s westernisation of Russia?

How successful were Peter the Great’s reforms of central and local government?

‘Russian foreign policy did not change in the years 1725 to 1762.’

Assess the validity of this view.

Using your understanding of the historical context, assess how convincing the arguments in these three extracts are in relation to the reign of Elizabeth, Empress of Russia.

‘Peter the Great’s response to the Streltsy revolt of 1698 was the key factor in the consolidation of his power in the years 1682 to 1703.’

Assess the validity of this view.

How successful was Peter the Great in fulfilling the aims of his foreign policy?

‘The reforming ideas set out in Catherine the Great’s Instruction to the Great Commission in 1766 had not been achieved by 1789.’

Assess the validity of this view.

Using your understanding of the historical context, assess how convincing the arguments in these three extracts are in relation to Catherine the Great’s policy towards Poland.

‘Rebellions and opposition during Peter the Great’s reign originated from the rejection of westernisation.’

Assess the validity of this view.

‘Swedish failings were more important than Russian strengths in securing Russia’s victory in the Great Northern War 1700–1721.’

Assess the validity of this view.

To what extent did the French Revolution change Catherine the Great’s domestic policy?