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Peter the Great is born
Peter the Great was born on June 9, 1672 in Moscow, Russia ("Encyclopedia of World Biography" 253). His father was Alexis of Russia and his mother was Natalya Naryshkina. He had 15 siblings growing up. -
Coronation of Peter the Great
Peter the Great was nine years old when he was crowned czar of Russia. He half ruled with his brother Ivan. After Ivan died, Peter I became sole ruler of Russia. This was the beginning of a new and more powerful Russia ("Timelines of History" 227) -
Peter had an arranged marriage
When Peter was a young man, his mother arranged his marriage with Eudoxia Lopukhina, the daughter of a minor noble. The marriage which took place in 1689 was unhappy from the very beginning ("Timelines of History" 232). They had 2 children together. -
Mt Etna in Sicily erupts
On January 11, 1693 a huge earthquake destroyed at least 45 cities, affecting an area of 3480 square miles and causing the death of more than 60 000 people which is about half of the population of the South-East of Sicily. Hardest hit was Catania, where 2/3rds of the population lost their life ("Timelines of History" 233). This was one of the biggest earthquakes to hit Italy besides the 1908 earthquake of Messina -
The Grand Embassy
The Grand Embassy was a mission that Peter I embarked on to westernize Russia. He was the first Russian monarch to travel far from Russia. He disguised himself to look like a normal citizen and would not answer to anyone who referred to him as royalty. Along with Peter the Great, 250 people traveled with him (Novikova). The significant result of The Grand Embassy was the modernization of Russia and its technology. -
Peter the Great founded the first Russian Navy base
Peter realized that it was important to make Russia a maritime power in order to make trading with other nations easier. He sought to create more maritime outlets and after several wars with Turkey in the south, he secured access to the Black Sea. He officially founded the first Russian Navy base, Taganrog, in September 1698 (Russia Beyond the Headlines). -
Change of Calendar
Peter the Great changed the national calendar to the Julian calendar. This changed the Russian New Year from September 1 to January 1. This caused conflict within the country because for so many years, the Gregorian calendar had been used ("Russia's Difficulties"). -
The Great Northern War Begins
The great Northern War begins between Russia and Sweden. It lasts from 1700 to 1721. With new and better built ships Peter the great thinks it is time for combat on the Baltic. The defeat of Sweden in the Great Northern War won Russia direct access to the Baltic Sea(The Great Northern War). -
St. Petersburg
After winning access to the Baltic Sea through his victories in the Great Northern War, Peter the Great established the city of St. Petersburg as the new Russian capital. Peter the Great chose the island of Enisaari (History of Saint Petersburg). The working conditions were harsh and there were many deaths, so, he ordered about 40,000 workers per year. With the founding of St. Petersburg, Russia was now a major European power politically, culturally, and geographically (St. Petersburg) -
First Stem Engine Using Moving Parts Was Built
In England, the first steam engine using moving parts was built by Thomas Newcomen and Thomas Savery. The steam engine was used to pump water from a mine in Staffordshire ("Timelines of History" 236). This invention helped save money that would have been spent on horses moving the water. -
Pennsylvania Frees Slaves
On June 7, 1712, Pennsylvania freed all the slaves in the state. This was a step closer to the abolition of slavery. Queen Anne, however, reversed the decision the next year ("Timelines of History" 240). -
Smallpox Epidemic
In the South African Cape, smallpox infected the Khoisan population killing 9 people for every 1 survivor ("Timelines of History" 240). it arrived with the crew on a Dutch ship. In the end, a fourth of the population had died (South African History Online). -
1st lighthouse built in north America (Boston)
The first lighthouse in America was at Boston on Little Brewster Island in 1716. The first keeper was George Worthylake who was drowned, along with his wife and daughter, when returning to the island in 1718 ("Timelines of History" 240) The original tower was destroyed by the British and eventually reconstructed in 1784. -
Son Alexei Dies
Peter the Greats son was accused of treason, a crime that often resulted in execution. Peter I believed that it was his duty to make sure his son never committed a crime like this again. So, in the middle of the night he went over to his son's house and killed him. He is thought to be insane for doing this and no one knows if his intentions were right, to this day (Alexander Palace Time Machine). -
Capture of Pensacola
The Capture of Pensacola took place in May 1719 during the War of the Quadruple Alliance when a French force led by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville took and occupied the settlement of Pensacola in the Spanish colony of Florida. The French occupied Pensacola until August 1719, when a large Spanish force arrived and forced the small French garrison to surrender ("Timelines of History" 241). The war ended and Pensacola was officially returned to Spanish control in 1726. -
Peter the Great dies
Peter the Great died on January 28, 1725. He was fifty-two years old and had ruled Russia for forty-two years. An autopsy revealed that his bladder was infected by gangrene which caused his death ("Encyclopedia of World Biography").
