Compare+Russia's+interaction+with+of+two+of+the+following+(Ottoman+Empire,+China,+western+Europe,+and+eastern+Europe)

By: Tori Mallipudi

Thesis: From 1450- 1750, Russia is able to progress while the Romanov family remained the czars. Probably the greatest czar in this time period was Peter the Great. He was able to use interactions with separate societies nearby to help Russia become powerful. With Western Europe, he acknowledged they did something right and tried to Westernize. With the Ottoman empire, he saw that it was weak and there was potential to expand his territory and control more navigable ports.

At a glance~  It is easy to see that the interactions were quite different.

☙Western Europe❧
 * Clash of religions leads to tensions- [|Roman Catholic vs. Eastern Orthodoxy]
 * Russia eventually influenced by the Western culture.
 * Once ports available, more trade done with Western Europe
 * [|Peter the Great]- first to Westernize Russia
 * This was not necessarily out of respect, but rather to prove Russia was better.
 * Competition thrives between the two as they both advance

☙Ottoman Empire❧
 * [|Hostile relationship]
 * Peter the great wages war and fails, but the Ottoman's major weaknesses are uncovered
 * outdated weapons and armor
 * politically unstable
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">issues controlling so much land

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 150%;">A closer look~ <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">It reveals that there are still some similarities. Russia viewed both of these societies as competition. With Europe, it saw that they needed to improve in order to stay on top. With the Ottomans, they saw a struggling empire and land they could use. Russia needed ports to trade and grow. Most of their natural ports were in the Arctic Ocean where they remained ice for most of the year. Russia was able to use interaction with these societies to grow, expand, and prosper.