Peter the Great
There have been many very influential people throughout European history. Louis XIV of France, Frederick William of Prussia, Ivan the Great and Peter the Great of Russia, Charles I and James I all made great impacts in the development and progression of their countries. However, if you had to name one person who was the most influential person in all of European history, who would it be? I believe that it can be narrowed down to Peter the Great and Louis XIV. Although Peter the Great was possibly the most magnificent Russian Czar of all time, I believe King Louis XIV of France had the greater impact upon European history. Under the direction of King Louis XIV, France achieved unprecedented dominance in Europe, and her culture flourished. Louis' court was renowned for its splendor and sophistication. He helped advance the arts in every field through his enlightened patronage. His seventy-two year reign was longer than any other ruler in modern European history. Louis XIV brought France to its peak of absolute power. His absolutism brought him into conflict with the Huguenots and the papacy resulting with some damaging repercussions. His many foreign wars became a financial burden, yet his long reign is associated with
Louis' military excursions can be neatly separated into four distinct conflicts: the War of Devolution with Spain, the Dutch War, the War of Palatinate, and the War of the Spanish Succession - the last of which might be called the first truly global conflict of the modern age. In truth, France fared well, losing little land. By the time Louis' death in 1715, Louis XIV could claim to have irrevocably broken the Hapsburg ring around his kingdom and transformed France from a struggling, politically divided entity into the premier power on the European continent. Peter the Great borrowed many of his ideas from the rest of Europe. Three hundred years ago Peter I of Russia made a visit to London that lasted for nearly four months. Always eager to learn about Western ways, especially those that might help to modernize Russia, the young Czar found much in England to admire such as Greenwich Hospital and Greenwich Observatory, which seemed to him to be models of scientific progress. "His enthusiasm for Western practices extended even to fashions in dress" (Tierney, p.31). Indeed, Peter is recorded as saying, "The English island is the best and most beautiful in the world." Therefore, the point becomes obvious that Peter the Great wasn't so much an influence upon Europe. Rather, Europe was an influence upon him. Additionally, according to Robert K. Massie's book, Peter the Great, when Peter returned to Russia, he was accompanied by dozens of Englishmen, engi
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Approximate Word count = 988
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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