Peter the Great took a nearly two-year excursion through Western Europe to gain first-hand information on how other countries achieved a prosperous economic environment as well as the role played by the army in managing these countries. This leader was convinced that a new version of Russia would not work without changing the relationship between the government and the people. Russia's modernization helped change military organization, build the great city of St. Petersburg, and even provide Russian agriculture with a new crop, the potato. Peter the Great's reform of Russia was greatly influenced by these visits and change was initiated during his trip to Western Europe. Say no to plagiarism. Get Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get Original Essay Peter the Great and his embassy of other young Russian men began their expedition in 1697. Before that, others were sent to observe parts of Europe, but Peter decided to go there himself. Direct experience of how other countries were governed seemed like a better course of action. Europe did not need to know about the arrival of this prominent political figure. "The plan which he formed was not to travel openly in his own name, for he knew that in that case much of his time and attention, in the different courts and capitals, would be wasted in the great parades , processions and ceremonies by which the different sovereigns would undoubtedly endeavor to honor his visit. The goal was simply to observe the procedures and defenses of different governments in an unfiltered, unglamorous light. At the beginning of the journey from Moscow, the first stop was the Gulf of Riga, located on the Baltic Sea. The goal of this part of the journey was to obtain territory with access to the sea. At that time, there was no navy in Russia, and the army needed updating. Peter also wanted to see the fortifications (new defensive wall) of Riga, but the governor told him no. Königsberg, located in Prussia, was the choice for the embassy's next step. The main goal here was to learn about Prussian ships and how these ships would successfully sail the seas. Pierre succeeded here by learning to navigate from one place to another. As Peter the Great approached his next stop in Holland, this place interested him most. “The expedition thus continued its journey along the coast of the Baltic Sea, towards Holland, the country that Pierre most wanted to see. In each city where they stopped, Pierre went to examine the expeditions. Peter did not want to be honored when he arrived in a country, but the people of the Netherlands had discovered that he was traveling with the embassy and that whenever the embassy entered certain areas of the Netherlands it was celebrated . Peter never participated in the festivities since he was there to learn and not to be worshiped, which is why he disguised himself. When the embassy passed through Amsterdam, crowds of people still gathered to show their respect. “The Dutch government and people had a very great interest in this embassy, ​​not only because of its splendor and the magnitude of the imperial power it represented, but also because of the commercial and pecuniary considerations it entailed. . »At the embassy's next stop in Amsterdam, a palace had been prepared for the members of this group, but in keeping with its goal of blending into the culture, a small house or cabin was purchasedfor Peter's stay. It was here that Peter the Great finally saw why he had come to Holland, the Dutch East India Company. The Dutch East India Company was very interesting to see because of its large shipyards and where ships were built. “Amsterdam, in Peter's time, was the greatest port in Europe and the richest city in the world” (Massie 183). Peter met a man named PeterMichaelhoff, a shipwright. “He lived here several months and devoted himself diligently to his work” (Abbott 132). Peter the Great worked with the workers and wore the same clothes; he wanted to learn how to build boats. “Pierre bought a sailboat for 450 florins and installed a new farmhouse and bowsprit with his own hands” (Massie 182). In his spare time, when he was tired, he captained boats to familiarize himself with different types of ships. The executive gained much knowledge about naval carpentry but was disappointed at the lack of information obtained on the "fundamental secrets of ship design." "He learned that in England naval carpentry had been reduced to a regular science and that the shapes and patterns of the ships built there were determined by fixed mathematical principles, which every skillful and intelligent workman was expected to understand and put into practice. practical” (Abbott 140). Peter was ready to find out more. The time had come for Peter to move to London, the second richest city at the time behind Amsterdam. During his visit to London and walks around the city, the architecture of the buildings became an asset that would contribute to the building of St. Petersburg. His main goal, however, remained to acquire knowledge of shipbuilding. Peter got to see the Londoners working on the ships and see how they had it down to a science. “When he was at the shipyard, he studied this subject very carefully; and although it was obviously impossible that in so short a time he could become fully mastered of it, he was nevertheless able to obtain a general idea of ​​the nature of the method which would greatly assist him in making the arrangements necessary. introduce it into one’s own country.” He now considered his long stay in Holland a waste of time. In England, there were advances and precise methods. During his stay in England, the working methods remained the same as he once again stood alongside the working class. Working with these men in England was essential to learning how they applied mathematics to shipbuilding. He stayed in London until he thought he had stayed too long. “Peter went to Portsmouth to visit the Royal Navy anchored there.” "...In the town of Portsmouth there is a deep and spacious harbor entirely surrounded and protected by land." The opposite of where Portsmouth is, in a place called Spithead. Spithead is where many English naval ships are located. The king asked the admiral, in charge of the English navy, to escort Peter to Spithead. It was the only way Peter could do it. When Peter finally left England, the king gave him a yacht, titled The Royal Transport. Two of the next planned stops were planned in Vienna and Rome. Unfortunately, due to the rebellion in the city of Moscow, a return to Russia was necessary to resolve the problems that arose. Although they did not act on their grievances until near the end of his trip, the Russians had begun to conspire against Peter after he had been away for only a few months. Several questions immediately required his attention. His sister Sophia.