How did Russia become a world superpower?
Well, it all starts with Peter the Great and his Grand Embassy.
But the story begins 300 years ago with the 6'8" giant, Peter, traveling Europe in disguise...
Well, it all starts with Peter the Great and his Grand Embassy.
But the story begins 300 years ago with the 6'8" giant, Peter, traveling Europe in disguise...
At the shipyard, a foreman calls out:
"Carpenter Peter, why don't you help your comrades?"
Peter immediately gets up without question and helps a struggling group of men, lift a timber beam into place.
"Carpenter Peter, why don't you help your comrades?"
Peter immediately gets up without question and helps a struggling group of men, lift a timber beam into place.
What the heck is going on here?
Why is the Tsar of Russia working as a laborer at a shipyard in Holland?
(And this was not before he was a king or anything, this was literally when he ruled Russia)
Why is the Tsar of Russia working as a laborer at a shipyard in Holland?
(And this was not before he was a king or anything, this was literally when he ruled Russia)
At this time in history, Russia was seen by the rest of Europe as a land of barbarians, with little to no civilized culture.
So, when Peter the Great took the throne, he made the decision to pull Russia out of its Medieval way of life.
So, when Peter the Great took the throne, he made the decision to pull Russia out of its Medieval way of life.
He decided to assemble the Grand Embassy, which was a group of 250 men.
They would travel all around Europe.
They would travel all around Europe.
The only country the embassy avoided was that of France, the land of the Sun King.
I will be writing a thread on the Sun King later...
I will be writing a thread on the Sun King later...
Peter knew that this entourage would attract a great deal of attention.
To minimize that, he decided to go incognito.
To minimize that, he decided to go incognito.
Peter demanded that everyone refer to him as Peter Mikhailov, a simple laborer.
And anyone who revealed his true identity faced death as punishment.
And anyone who revealed his true identity faced death as punishment.
Upon arriving in Holland, Peter headed to the shipyards.
He wanted to learn how the Dutch were building their impressive ships.
At the end of the 1600s, the Dutch were incredibly wealthy and were considered the dominant economic power of the world.
He wanted to learn how the Dutch were building their impressive ships.
At the end of the 1600s, the Dutch were incredibly wealthy and were considered the dominant economic power of the world.
In the morning, Peter would gather up his tools and go to work just as any other common workman.
He would shape timber with his hatchet and ask the foreman about the name of every single object he saw.
He had a ravenous hunger for knowledge.
He would shape timber with his hatchet and ask the foreman about the name of every single object he saw.
He had a ravenous hunger for knowledge.
Unfortunately, his anonymity was not kept a secret for too long.
One evening when Peter was walking down a road eating plums from his hat, he offered some fruit to a group of boys.
One evening when Peter was walking down a road eating plums from his hat, he offered some fruit to a group of boys.
There wasn't enough fruit to go around and the boys began following him.
Peter tried to chase them away, but the kids threw stones and mud at him.
This incident drew a crowd and his cover was blown.
Peter tried to chase them away, but the kids threw stones and mud at him.
This incident drew a crowd and his cover was blown.
His disguise was bound to be uncovered eventually, after all, he was a full foot taller than practically everyone.
People started whispering as soon as he started working in Holland.
People started whispering as soon as he started working in Holland.
Peter and the Grand Embassy traveled to:
- Holland
- England
- Saxony
- Livonia
- Kurland
- Prussia
- Austria
They spent over a year traveling around Europe (1697-1698).
- Holland
- England
- Saxony
- Livonia
- Kurland
- Prussia
- Austria
They spent over a year traveling around Europe (1697-1698).
Many people believe Peter embarked on this journey in an effort to strengthen military allies.
Although that was certainly a part of Peter's reasoning, it appears that more than anything, a desire to educate himself drove the travels.
Although that was certainly a part of Peter's reasoning, it appears that more than anything, a desire to educate himself drove the travels.
Before he left Russia, he had a seal for his letters that was engraved with:
"I am a pupil and need to be taught."
"I am a pupil and need to be taught."
Peter and the embassy soaked up as much knowledge as they could.
Peter studied shipbuilding, anatomy, school systems, navigation, city planning, and spent a lot of time in museums.
Peter studied shipbuilding, anatomy, school systems, navigation, city planning, and spent a lot of time in museums.
When Peter returned to Russia, he implemented everything he had learned in his own country.
Peter founded St. Petersburg a few years later.
"I intend to imitate Amsterdam in my city of Saint Petersburg."
Peter founded St. Petersburg a few years later.
"I intend to imitate Amsterdam in my city of Saint Petersburg."
Aside from the founding of St. Petersburg, he put a number of reforms into place that revolutionized his lacking country.
Among the changes Peter made, he also built the Russian navy, which had been non-existent prior.
Among the changes Peter made, he also built the Russian navy, which had been non-existent prior.
After Peter's reign, Russia would not be seen as Europe's barbaric cousin, but as a respected power that flourished scientifically, economically, culturally, etc.
So, how does this story help you?
Well, something that is often overlooked is the power of imitation.
We as humans are wired to learn most productively through imitation.
Ben Franklin on the matter:
βTell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learnβ
We as humans are wired to learn most productively through imitation.
Ben Franklin on the matter:
βTell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learnβ
Traveling can be huge, but what matters most is that you gather the knowledge of others.
Russia had been struggling for many, many years, and all of a sudden one king takes a year-long journey visiting the advanced nations and Russia is forever transformed.
Russia had been struggling for many, many years, and all of a sudden one king takes a year-long journey visiting the advanced nations and Russia is forever transformed.
The internet makes this process 100x easier today.
You can just Google stuff.
Want to learn email marketing?
Want to learn how to code?
Or maybe you want to write?
Find the talented people on the internet (social media) that get RESULTS, and just model yourself after them.
You can just Google stuff.
Want to learn email marketing?
Want to learn how to code?
Or maybe you want to write?
Find the talented people on the internet (social media) that get RESULTS, and just model yourself after them.
KNOWLEDGE:
- Use the power of imitation.
- Watch how others do things and just model them.
So, get your Grand Embassy (your laptop) and travel around Europe (the internet) to transform Russia (your life)!
*Note: Peter the Great was controversial... the goal of thisβ¦
- Use the power of imitation.
- Watch how others do things and just model them.
So, get your Grand Embassy (your laptop) and travel around Europe (the internet) to transform Russia (your life)!
*Note: Peter the Great was controversial... the goal of thisβ¦
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