Abstract This paper discusses the life of Peter the Great especially his role in building the Russian navy. The author starts by describing the strength of the Swedish navy and how Peter I conquered them. The author believes that the building of the Russian military, especially the navy, was testament to the will of this one man, Peter I, who with his genius, foresight, courage and charisma dragged the Russian world into the Age of Enlightenment.
From the Paper "In a concentrated effort no less fantastic than the U.S. response to Pearl Harbor in World War II, the Russians under Peter's dynamic leadership created a navy in every sense of the word. Not only did they build a fierce contingent of warships and galleys over the next several years; but also they developed the strategy and the strategists that would make best use of the new Russian naval instrument. By the 1720's, the Russians, not the Swedes, would have control of the Baltic. They would keep control of it for the better part of the next two centuries."
