Fredrick the Great
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Peter the Great
Towards the end of the seventeenth century, Russia had little direct contact with European markets. Russia was restricted to inner land trade because the Archangel port was iced over for most of the year. At that time Russia did not have any ship technology. "The foreign trade that did exist was carried out by foreign ships traveling through Russia's river system." (Spodex, 432) Russia began to take modern form when Ivan III defeated the Mongols in 1480. Russia then expanded to the southeast and defeated Astrakhan for the silk trade route to and from Persia. Russia also expanded eastward capturing Siberia's fur-bearing animals. Russia only had an urban trading class and few city markets. The majority of Russia's population lived in serfdom. (Spodex, 432)
In 1682, Peter became co-czar of Russia with his half-brother Ivan, later known as Ivan V, and his half-sister Sophia...