Lecture Date: April 14, 2015
Peter the Great is generally regarded as the primary force in leading Russia out of medieval into modern times. Ruling as tsar from 1682 to 1725 — officially as Peter I, but commonly known by his self-awarded title of Peter the Great — he is credited with centralizing the government, modernizing the army, and creating a navy. His aggressive and autocratic demeanor was abetted by his extraordinary physical presence — approximately 6 feet, 8 inches tall — enabling him to loom over his contemporaries, both literally and figuratively. His reign, though not totally enlightened by any means, did result in the increased Westernization of Russia.
Speaker: Jeremy Black
Jeremy Black is a popular and dynamic lecturer who has appeared multiple times in the Great Lives series. Having studied at Cambridge and Oxford, he began his teaching career at the University of Durham in 1980 before moving to Exeter University in 1996, where he is the current holder of the Established Chair in History. In addition to his teaching, Professor Black has held a number of important public roles, including that of editor of Archives, the journal of the British Records Association. His prodigious scholarly output encompasses more than 100 publications, mainly on, but not limited to, British and continental European history, with particular emphasis on international relations and military history. He has held numerous teaching positions outside of England, having lectured extensively in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, and Denmark—as well as in the US, where he has taught at the Universities of Maryland, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgetown, and Rutgers, among others.