Peter the Great was a giant in every way: in physical stature, willpower, enthusiasm, energy, libertinism, and refusal to accept old conventions, he stood head and shoulders above his contemporaries. He grew up in an atmosphere of fear, suspicion, and violent court rivalries. As a product of the system, Peter was, of necessity, ruthless and tyrannical, but what earned him his place in history was tearing his country from its traditional, oriental customs and beliefs and integrating it into the life of Europe. He removed the privileges of the medieval aristocracy, brought the church under state control, and ordered his courtiers and officials to adopt Western dress. He used the latest scientific and technological advances to build a modern army and navy, which he used to destroy the Swedish Empire and make Russia (with its brand-new capital, St. Petersburg) master of the Baltic. By the end of his remarkable reign, Russia was profoundly changed--and so was Europe.--From publisher description.