In the first quarter of the 18th century, transformations were carried out in Russia that were directly related to the “Europeanization” of Russian culture. The main content of the reforms in this area was the formation and development of secular national culture, secular education, serious changes in everyday life and customs carried out in terms of Europeanization.

It should be noted that throughout the XYII century, there was an active penetration of Western European culture into Rus'. However, in the era of Peter the Great, the direction of Western European influence changes, and new ideas and values ​​are forcibly introduced, implanted in all spheres of life of the Russian nobility - the main object of the transformative policy of Peter I. This kind of situation was largely explained by state goals - Peter needed achievements and experience Europe for carrying out, first of all, industrial, administrative, military, financial reform, to solve the problems of foreign policy. Peter associated the success of these reforms with the formation of a new worldview, the restructuring of the culture and life of the Russian nobility in accordance with European values.

The nature of the reforms was greatly influenced by Peter's sympathy for the Western way of life and way of life, which originated in the years early youth, during his frequent visits to the German Quarter in Moscow, where he made his first friends and where, according to a contemporary of Prince B.I. Kurakin, he "began to be the first Cupid." This irrational mental inclination, apparently, explains the great value, which Peter attached to reforms in the field of life and culture.

After his first trip abroad, Peter set out to bring European institutions, customs, forms of communication and entertainment to Russia, little thinking that they did not have an organic background here. Moreover, the ways in which Peter introduced European civilization indicate that the reformer required his subjects to overcome themselves, defiantly depart from the customs of their fathers and grandfathers and accept European institutions as the rites of a new faith.

Rapprochement with the West was manifested in the government's concern for the Russian person to resemble a European in appearance. The day after his arrival from abroad (August 26, 1698), Peter acted as a barber, ordering to bring scissors and arbitrarily cutting off the beards of the boyars shocked by this trick. Peter did this operation several times. For Peter, the beard has become a symbol of hated antiquity, carrying, for example, in the face of archers, a threat to him and his plans. The beard has long been considered an inviolable adornment, a sign of honor, generosity, a source of pride, so this decree aroused resistance. The decree of 1705 obliged the entire male population of the country, with the exception of priests, monks and peasants, to shave their beards and mustaches. Thus, initially, Russian society was divided into two unequal parts: for one (the nobility and the top of the urban population), a Europeanized culture, implanted from above, was intended, the other retained the traditional way of life.

The struggle was with a wide-sleeved dress. Shortly after the return of the "great embassy" a mock consecration of the Lefortovo Palace took place. Many guests arrived at the feast in traditional Russian clothes: shirts with embroidered collars, bright-colored silk zipuns, over which they wore caftans with long sleeves, sleeved at the wrist. Over the caftan was a long velvet dress fastened from top to bottom with many buttons. A fur coat and a fur hat with a high crown and a velvet top completed the outfit of the nobility (such an outfit was completely inconvenient for work). On that day, the king again shocked many noble people by taking scissors with his own hand and starting to shorten the sleeves.

In 1700, a special decree was adopted on the mandatory wearing of the Hungarian dress (caftans), and in next year it was forbidden to wear a Russian dress, its manufacture and sale was punishable by law, it was prescribed to wear German shoes - boots and shoes. It was a conscious opposition of the new, modern, convenient to the old, archaic. Obviously, long goals only by violence could support new fashions and mores. Decrees were published more than once, threatening violators with various punishments, up to hard labor.

Europeanization was perceived by the Russian nobles subjectively, since the main criterion for a Europeanized way of life was considered to be the difference from peasant life. For a Russian nobleman, being a European meant changing clothes, hairstyle, manners, i.e. cut off from peasant life. And this could be done by teaching European culture.

Such training was not easy for Russian nobles, since they were born and raised in pre-Petrine Rus' and were brought up in accordance with traditional values. Therefore, the Russian nobleman in the era of Peter the Great found himself in his homeland in the position of a foreigner who, in adulthood, should be taught by artificial methods what people usually receive in early childhood by direct experience. Peter understood that it was impossible to teach his subjects a new “language” with the help of threats and decrees alone, therefore, manuals and manuals on teaching “correct” behavior were published under his direct supervision.

The so-called “Honest Mirror of Youth, or Indication to worldly manners". This essay by an unknown author forms a new stereotype of the behavior of a secular person who avoids bad company, extravagance, drunkenness, rudeness, adhering to European manners. The main moral of this work: youth is preparation for service, and happiness is the result of diligent service.

The study of this text is interesting from the point of view of identifying contradictions between traditional and new values ​​and considering the process of adaptation on Russian soil of European culture. Thus, the book suggested that a well-bred young man should be distinguished by three virtues: friendliness, humility and courtesy. To be successful in society, he must speak foreign languages, be able to dance, ride a horse, fence, be eloquent and well-read, etc. In conclusion, 20 virtues were listed that adorn noble maidens. Interestingly, along with the above recommendations, the following advice was also given: “cut your nails, so they don’t appear, supposedly they are sheathed with velvet ... Don’t grab the first one into the dish and don’t eat like a pig ... lick your fingers, do not gnaw on bones. Unclean teeth with a knife ... Often sneezing, blowing your nose and coughing is not nice ... ”. This kind of combination of disparate recommendations and advice is very characteristic of the culture of the Petrine era and is indicative in identifying its contradictions.

When analyzing “An Honest Mirror of Youth ...”, one of the main goals of Europeanization is visible: “Young youths should always speak among themselves in foreign languages, so that they can get used to it, and especially when they happen to say something secretly, so that the servants and maids could not find out and so that they to recognize from other ignorant fools.” From this quote it can be seen that for Russian nobles, foreign should become the norm and “knowledge of foreign languages ​​increased the social status of a person.” The nobility became a privileged class, and Peter, as it were, sanctioned the fenced-off of the nobles from peasant life, confirming with his instructions the correctness of their choice of the main criterion for a Europeanized way of life.

The most important socio-economic and political shifts in the social life of Russia in the Petrine era were vividly reflected in literature and journalism. In 1717 in St. Petersburg, “Reasoning ...” was published on the causes of the war with Sweden, prepared on behalf of Peter by Vice-Chancellor P.P. Shafirov and representing the first in Russian history a detailed diplomatic treatise on the country's foreign policy priorities. Economic journalism was represented by the works of the outstanding nugget scientist B.T. Pososhkov (1652 - 1726), and, above all, his most famous work "The Book of Poverty and Wealth".

One of the brilliant orators, writers, church and public figures of the era of Peter the Great was Feofan Prokopovich (1631 - 1736), the main supporter of church reform. He developed the “Spiritual Regulations” (1721) and the important political treatise “The Truth of the Will of Monarchs” (1722). Another prominent church figure was Metropolitan Stefan Yavorsky (1658 - 1722) - locum tenens of the patriarchal throne in 1700 - 1721. His literary activity is marked by large religious treatises “The Sign of the Coming of the Antichrist” and “The Stone of Faith”, directed against reformism and Protestantism.

By the time of Peter, there are attempts to create public theaters (“comedy temples”) in Moscow and St. Petersburg, where plays on historical themes and comedies were choked (for example, J.-B. Molière's Amphitryon and The Forced Doctor). The first Russian dramatic works also appear: “Vladimir” (a tragicomedy by F. Prokopovich), “Glory to Russia” (a play by F. Zhukovsky), etc.

Changes in life and customs higher circles manifested itself in the emergence of new forms of entertainment. At the end of 1718, the tops of St. Petersburg society were notified of the introduction of assemblies. Peter visited the French drawing rooms, where outstanding figures of science, politics, and art gathered and held conversations, and he came up with a plan for organizing assemblies in Russia. Introducing new form communication and entertainment, Peter pursued two main goals - to accustom Russian nobles to the secular lifestyle common in Europe, and to introduce Russian women to public life. When organizing assemblies, the converter used not only practical, but also theoretical achievements Western Europe.

In his decree “On the procedure for meetings in private homes, and on the persons who may participate in them,” a list of rules is given, the schedule of this entertainment, which all those present must follow. All the efforts of the converter were permeated with the idea of ​​utility. Peter also arranged assemblies in the Summer Garden, which also took place according to special regulations. For this entertainment, guests arrived by boat and entered the garden through elegant wooden galleries, which served at the same time as piers and reception halls, where tables with sweets and other snacks were laid.

Decrees of December 19 and 20, 1699 introduced a new chronology: not from the creation of the world, but from the Nativity of Christ; the New Year began not on September 1, but on January 1, as in many European countries.

The celebration of the new year was supposed to take place from 1 to 7 January. The gates of the courtyards were to be decorated with pine, spruce and juniper trees, and the gates of the poor owners were to be decorated with branches. Every evening, it was prescribed to burn bonfires along the large streets, and at a meeting to congratulate each other. Fireworks were arranged in the capital these days.

Peter I can be considered the founder of the system of public holidays. He consciously modeled the victorious festivities on the model of the triumphs of imperial Rome. Already in 1696, in the celebrations on the occasion of the victories of the Russian troops near Azov, the main elements and components of future festivities were outlined, in which the Roman basis was easily visible. By order of Peter the master "Ivan Saltanov and comrades" built a triumphal gate: huge carved statues of Hercules and Mars supported their vault, they were decorated with emblems and allegories unfamiliar to the Russian audience.

Peter demanded that the woman enter public life, forgetting that she was not quite ready for this and could not immediately, at one moment, part with the Domostroevsky way of life. The Transformer showed concern for the woman, telling her how to dress, speak, sit, and generally behave. At first, at the assemblies, as noted by S.N. Shubinsky, the Russian noblewomen and young ladies were funny and clumsy, “tucked into strong corsets, with huge tans, in high-heeled shoes, with a luxuriantly combed mostly powdered hairstyle, with long “slaps”, or trains, they could not only easily and gracefully spin in dances, but they didn’t even know how to become and sit down.

A feature of cultural policy under Peter I: the sovereign encouraged the areas necessary for the state: the creation of a new system of education, the development of science, secular art, changes in everyday life.

Enlightenment and science. Reforms required a lot educated people. Young nobles were sent to study abroad. In 1701 opened navigation school(later - Maritime Academy), Artillery School, in 1707 - Medical School, in 1712 - School of Engineering. For the education of the provincial nobles, 42 "digital schools" were created. New textbooks appeared: "Arithmetic" L.F. Magnitsky(1703). Since many nobles were reluctant to study, Peter forbade them to marry until they completed their studies. Schools for the children of workers and soldiers appeared. Education became secular. Theological subjects faded into the background, mathematics, astronomy, engineering, etc. took the first place. In 1708, the country switched from the Church Slavonic script to a simpler civil script.

In 1700, Peter introduced the chronology according to the European model - not from the creation of the world, but from the Nativity of Christ. The beginning of the year was January 1st. WITH 1703 the printed newspaper began to appear Vedomosti”(since 1728 -“ St. Petersburg Vedomosti ”), the first museum was opened in St. Petersburg -“ Kunstkamera". In 1714, the first state public library in Russia was created in St. Petersburg.

In 1724, Peter issued a decree on the establishment of the Academy of Sciences (opened in 1725 after the death of the king). A. I. Mankiev wrote "The Kernel of Russian History". With the participation of Peter I, the history of the Northern War was written (“ History of the Svean War"). Peter organized a regular postal message. The king intended to pave a trade route to India. He sent expeditions to Central Asia. Maps of the Caspian, Aral and Azov seas were drawn up. Russian explorers reached the Kuril Islands.

public thought. The central problem of socio-political thought was the question ideologies of absolutism. The principles of absolutism were developed F. Prokopovich(“The Truth of the Will of Monarchs”, “Spiritual Regulations”). Economist I. Pososhkov in The Book of Poverty and Wealth, he advocated the further development of the economy. Poet A. Cantemir ridiculed opponents of reforms in verse.

At the head of the opponents of Peter's reforms was his son Tsarevich Alexei. Peter's reforms were denounced in the works of the Old Believers, in the "charming letters" of the Don Cossack Nikita Gologo.

Architecture. IN 1703 the construction of St. Petersburg began. Foreign architects were invited: J. Leblon, D. Trezzini, B. Rastrelli and etc . Petersburg in the 18th century was built as a typical Western European city. Peter decided: "Petersburg will be the second Amsterdam." It was the first city in Russia, the development of which was carried out according to a previously developed plan. Approved architectural style Russian baroque. Baroque- a direction in art (architecture, sculpture, painting), which is characterized by contrast, dynamism, the desire for pomp and grandeur. Elements of Western European architecture (Gothic spire) are borrowed. Petersburg was built on the swampy banks of the Neva in the shortest possible time in a harsh climate. Many people died from starvation and overwork. According to N. M. Karamzin, "Petersburg is based on tears and corpses." Known poems of the Polish poet A. Mickiewicz:



Rome was created by human hand

Venice was created by the gods

But everyone would agree with me

That Petersburg was built by Satan...

The most important architectural monuments of St. Petersburg of that time:

Summer Palace of Peter I, Peter and Paul Cathedral ( D. Trezzini);

Building of the Twelve Collegia ( D. Trezzini, M.G. Zemtsov);

Menshikov Palace ( J.-M. Fontana And G. Schedel)

Out-of-town palace ensembles are being built near St. Petersburg - Peterhof (Petrodvorets), Oranienbaum (Lomonosov), Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin). Peterhof was, according to the plan of the tsar, to surpass the Versailles Palace of the French kings.

In Moscow are being built: Arsenal in the Kremlin ( D. Ivanov, X. Konrad, M. Choglokov), Lefortovo Palace ( D. Aksamitov), Menshikov tower ( I. Zarudny).

Painting. The leading place is occupied by oil paintings on secular subjects; a straight line appears. Portraits are divided into chamber, in which the artist seeks to penetrate into the inner world of a person, and portraits ceremonial emphasizing the social status of the depicted person. The most famous artists:

-AND. N. Nikitin(“Peter the Great on his deathbed”, “Portrait of Chancellor G. I. Golovkin”, “Outdoor Hetman”);

-A. M. Matveev studied in Holland ("Self-portrait with his wife").

-A. F. Zubov created engravings - panoramas of St. Petersburg, battle scenes from the history of the Northern War, etc.

Sculpture. The first sculptures for the Summer Garden were brought from Italy. K. Rastrelli made sculptures for Peterhof.

Theater. A public Russian theater appears. In 1702, German actors acted out plays by foreign authors in the "Comedy Mansion" on Moscow's Red Square.

Gen. The tsar-reformer considered the reason for the backwardness of Russia to be the patriarchal way of life. Rejecting the hated antiquity, Peter elevated "barbering" to the rank of state policy. For wearing a beard, one had to pay a fee: for noblemen - 60 rubles each, merchants - 100 rubles each, and other townspeople - 30 rubles each. in year. The one who paid received a copper sign, which he wore around his neck as proof that the beard was paid for. Peasants paid one kopeck for a beard at the entrance to the city. Only clerics were exempted from payment.

In order to convert Russians to Europeans, Peter issued a decree on wearing foreign clothes of German or Hungarian cut. Low-cut dresses were worn by noble wives and daughters. Peter ordered his subjects to drink tea and coffee and smoke tobacco. The king introduced new forms of leisure - assembly. They had to come with their wives and daughters. It meant the end terem retreat Russian women. The assemblies demanded the study of foreign languages, gallant manners (" politésa”), the ability to dance. The upbringing of young nobles took place according to a textbook of good manners brought from Prussia - “ Youth honest mirror, or Indication for worldly behavior"(1717).

Transformations in the field of culture allowed Russia to break out of the clutches of the Middle Ages, to turn to the culture of the advanced Western European countries. Often, borrowings from Europe were in the nature of blind imitation. Among the Russian nobility, servility to Western culture, disregard for Russian traditions, customs, and language arose. The transformations did not actually affect the peasantry.

Thus, the reforms of Peter I are difficult to assess unambiguously.

On the one hand, the reforms were incomprehensible and hated by the people, they were carried out unsystematically, cruelly, on a feudal basis. The reforms strengthened the feudal order and thus laid the ground for the subsequent lagging behind the developed countries of the West. As a result of numerous wars, the country's population declined.

On the other hand, the reforms disrupted Russia's slow pace of development. Peter contributed to the acceleration of economic development, created industry, a fleet, brought Russia into the ranks of the great powers of the world, brought it closer to the West ("cut a window to Europe").

The attitude of Peter I to Europe was contradictory. He said: "We need Europe for several decades, and then we must turn our backs on it."

In Russia, the process of registration was underway absolute monarchy- a system of power in which all its fullness belongs to one person who is at the head of the state - the king (emperor).

Peter and Paul Cathedral in Saint Petersburg

Peter's reforms followed one from the other and were interconnected.

Since active comprehensive reforms were taking place in the country, they required the training of qualified personnel. Training could be provided by new educational institutions, so secular schools began to open, all education began to acquire a secular character. This required the creation of new textbooks to replace the church textbooks.

In 1708, Peter I introduced a new civil script (instead of the Cyrillic semi-character). For the printing of scientific, secular educational, political literature and other needs, new printing houses were created in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The development of printing led to the beginning of an organized book trade and the creation of a network of libraries. The first Russian newspaper Vedomosti began to publish systematically.

The first Russian newspaper "Vedomosti"

The title page of Vedomosti

On January 2, 1703, the first sheet of printed Russian Vedomosti was published in Moscow - it was the first Russian newspaper printed in Church Slavonic font. Its full name is "Vedomosti, about military and other matters worthy of significance and memory, which happened in the Moscow State and in other surrounding countries." During the year 39 issues from 2 to 7 sheets were published, but the terms of the newspaper's release were arbitrary.

Here is what was written in its first issue (excerpt):

“Today, 400 copper cannons, howitzers and mortars have been poured in Moscow. Those cannons are 24, 18 and 12 pounds; howitzers with a bomb pound and half a pound; bomb mortars of nine, three and two pounds and less. And many more forms of ready-made, large and medium-sized cannons, howitzers and mortars for casting. And copper now in the cannon yard, which is prepared for a new casting, is more than 40,000 pounds.

By command of His Majesty, Moscow schools are multiplying, and 45 people are studying philosophy and have already graduated from dialectics.

More than 300 people study in the mathematical navigation school and accept science well.

From Persia they write: the Indian king sent as gifts to our great sovereign an elephant and many other things. From the city of Shemakha he was released to Astrakhan by land.

They write from Kazan: a lot of oil was found on the Soka River and copper ore; copper was smelted fairly from that ore, which is why they expect no small profit for the Muscovite state.

They write from Siberia: in the Chinese state, the Jesuits were not much loved for their cunning, and some of them were even executed by death.

From Olonets they write: the city of Olonets, priest Ivan Okulov, having gathered hunters on foot with a thousand people, went abroad to the Svei border and defeated the Svei - Rugozen and Hippo, and Sumer, and Kerisur outposts. And on those outposts of the Swedes he beat a lot of people ... and burned the Solovskaya manor, and near the Solovskaya manor many other manors and villages, with a thousand households, burned it ... ".

Other cultural reforms

In 1703 the first book appeared in Russian with Arabic numerals. Until that date, they were designated by letters with titles (wavy lines). In 1710, Peter approved a new alphabet with a simplified spelling of letters (the Church Slavonic font remained for printing church literature), two letters were excluded: “xi” Ѯ , ѯ and "psy" Ѱ , ѱ . The Russian language included 4.5 thousand new words borrowed from European languages.

The development of industry and trade led to the study and development of the territory and bowels of the country - large expeditions are organized. At the same time, technical innovations and inventions appear, especially in mining and metallurgy, in the military field. Mathematics and mechanics, geography and botany, physics and chemistry, astronomy and "mining" are actively studied. Cossack explorers discover new lands in Siberia. For example, on the initiative of Peter the Great, in 1725, the first Kamchatka expedition set off across Siberia to the Pacific Ocean, headed by Danish captain-commander Vitus Bering, who was accepted into the Russian service, and his assistant navigator A. Chirikov, as well as fleet lieutenant M. Shpanberg.

Vitus Bering

The study of the volcanoes of Kamchatka began. The first information about the "burnt hills" (volcanoes) in Kamchatka was reported by Russian Cossacks and industrialists who settled in Kamchatka at the end of the 17th century. Systematic studies of the nature and volcanoes of Kamchatka date back to the first quarter of the 18th century. The large volcanoes Shiveluch, Klyuchevskoy and Avachinsky were marked on the map of Northeast Asia and Kamchatka, compiled in 1725-1730.

A number of important works on history are being written. The Kunstkamera, created by Peter I, marked the beginning of the collections. The collection of written sources and annals, charters marked the beginning of the museum business in Russia.

Kunstkamera

The building of the Kunstkamera

Kunstkamera(German Kunstkammer- cabinet of rarities, museum), currently it is the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography named after Peter the Great Russian Academy Sciences, the first museum in Russia, established by Emperor Peter I in St. Petersburg.

The museum has a unique collection of antiques, revealing the history and life of many peoples. But many people know this museum for its collection of anatomical rarities and anomalies.

Construction of St. Petersburg

The architecture of cities is changing: palaces, mansions, government buildings appear. Special meaning was the construction of the new capital of St. Petersburg. Foreign architects took part in the construction, and the plan of the city was developed by the tsar himself. A new urban environment was created, new forms of life and pastime (theater, masquerades, assemblies).

N. Dobrovolsky "The city will be founded here!"

Peter was the founder of a new style in Russian art - "Peter's Baroque". It naturally combined Russian folk traditions with the best examples of Western European art: Dutch, French and English. Thanks to Peter, the activities of the Swiss architect flourished in Russia Domenico Trezzini who built a magnificent in St. Petersburg, Peter and Paul Cathedral and the building of 12 colleges. Under Peter I, activities began Bartolomeo Rastrelli.

Peter I strove to use monumental architecture and sculpture more effectively to decorate capital and suburban residences, gardens, ships, temples, noble palaces, triumphal arches and obelisks. Assemblies, masquerades, theatrical performances, solemn processions of troops, naval parades, illuminations, festive fireworks in honor of victories - all this required a large-scale and bright artistic design. Cities, fortresses began to be built according to the "general perspectives".

Summer Palace (St. Petersburg)

Portrait painting is gaining new sound and popularity. Under him, the genre of battle painting was founded.

In the first quarter of the XVIII century. attempts are being made to create a Russian theater, for this the first domestic dramatic works are written.

Decisive changes are being introduced in everyday life that affect almost all aspects of life: clothes with long sleeves were banned, they were replaced with new ones. The old Russian clothes were replaced by camisoles, ties, frills, wide-brimmed hats, stockings, shoes, wigs. It was forbidden to wear a beard, which caused great discontent in society. Even a special "beard tax" and a mandatory copper sign for its payment were introduced.

Peter I established assemblies (for more details, see our website: at which women were required to attend, which entailed the careful implementation of the “rules of good manners” and “noble behavior in society”, as well as the use of a foreign language (mainly French).

In 1702, Peter issued a decree that forbade writing derogatory half-names (Senka, Vanka) in documents or petitions and established that names be indicated in full, as well as “do not fall on your knees in front of the king, in winter in the frost a hat in front of the house in which the king is located, don't shoot." “Less meanness, more zeal for service and loyalty to me and the state - this honor is characteristic of the king,” he explained.

Decrees of 1700, 1702 and 1724 Peter forbade forced marriage and marriage. There had to be a period of at least 6 weeks between the betrothal and the wedding, "so that the bride and groom could recognize each other." If during this time "the bridegroom does not want to take the bride, or the bride does not want to marry the groom" - "there will be freedom."

An important motive for carrying out reforms in Russia was Peter's visit to European countries as part of the "Great Embassy". Returning, Peter especially clearly understands the need for education: he sends young capable nobles to Europe to study various specialties - mainly for marine science (according to some reports, several thousand Russians were sent to study abroad in Peter's time). At the same time, he opens specialized educational institutions in Russia: the School of Mathematical and Navigational Sciences, the School of Engineering, etc. a similar measure for the urban population met with fierce resistance and was canceled.Such fierce resistance to education (and to other innovations of Peter) can explain his cruelty and violent measures, in another way, apparently, it does not work in Russia.

Peter's attempt to create an all-estate primary school: after his death, the creation of such schools ceased, most of the digital schools were re-profiled by successors into class schools for the training of the clergy. However, the undeniable fact is that in his reign the foundations for the development of education in Russia were laid.

In order to quickly overcome the disunity of Russia and Europe, Peter I in 1700 transferred Russia to new calendar- 7208 (from the creation of the world) becomes 1700 (from the birth of Christ), and the celebration of the New Year is postponed to January 1 (from September 1).

In 1717, the book “An Honest Mirror of Youth” was published - a kind of etiquette textbook.

"An honest mirror of youth"

Original page from the book "Honest Mirror of Youth"

"An honest mirror of youth" (full title "An honest mirror of youth, or an indication for worldly behavior, collected from various authors").

"Mirror" consists of two separate parts. The first part contains the alphabet, tables of syllables, numbers and numbers, as well as moralizing from Holy Scripture. This part is similar to the manual for teaching the civil script and Arabic writing of numbers, which Peter introduced in 1708 instead of the Church Slavonic designation.

The second part is the rules of conduct for "young boys" and girls of the nobility. This is the first etiquette textbook in Russia. A young nobleman is encouraged to learn foreign languages, learn horseback riding, dancing and fencing. Girls are encouraged to learn humility, respect for parents, diligence and silence.

Almost all aspects of public life are regulated: from behavior at the table to public service. The book helped shape a new type of behavior for a secular person, who should avoid bad company, drunkenness, extravagance, and rudeness.

The "Honest Mirror of Youth" was for many years a guide to the rules of good manners and behavior in society. The book was repeatedly reprinted until the end of the 19th century.

In the Peter and Paul Cathedral

Let's read it at least selectively.

“First of all, the children of the father and mother should be kept in great honor. And when from parents what they are ordered happens, always keep a hat in your hands ... ".

“In the house, do not command anything with your name, but with the name of your father or mother ... unless someone has special servants who are themselves subject to him ...”.

“It is not necessary to interrupt the speeches of the parents, and below to contradict their other peers, do not fall into speeches, but wait until they speak out.”

“Don’t lean on a table, on a bench or anything else, and don’t be like a village peasant who is lying in the sun, but you must stand straight.”

“It is indecent ... to walk around the table with your hands or feet, but eat quietly. And do not draw with forks and a knife on the plates, on the tablecloth, or on the dish ... ".

“Always praise enemies in absentia, when they do not hear, but honor them in their presence, and serve them in their need, and do not speak any evil about the dead.”

“Always spend time in pious deeds, but don’t be idle and idle, because it happens that some people live lazily, not cheerfully, and their mind is eclipsed and freaked out, then you can expect nothing from that good, except for a decrepit body and a wormhole which, due to laziness, becomes fat.

“Young gentry, or a nobleman, if he is perfect in his azercie (in training), and especially in languages, in horseback riding, dancing, in a sword battle, and can make a good conversation, moreover, he is eloquent and scientific in books, he can such leisure, to be a direct courtier.”

“The lad has to be sober and temperate…”.

“A young person should not be frisky, and below they should find out (find out) other people’s secrets, and it’s not necessary to know what someone is doing, as well as other people’s letters, money or goods without permission not to touch or read ...”.

“Young youths should always speak foreign languages ​​among themselves, so that they can get used to it: and especially when something secret happens to them, so that the servants and maids cannot be found out, and so that they can be recognized from other ignorant fools ... ".

“Young people should not talk bad about anyone and below everything to disclose what they hear ...”.

“No one has hanging his head and downcast eyes to walk down the street, or to look askance at people ...”, “... keep his head straight, and look at people cheerfully and pleasantly with graceful constancy ...”.

“When you are asked about something, it is up to you to respond, and give an answer, as decently, and do not wave your hand, and do not nod your head, or in some other obscene way, like dumb people who speak with signs, or do not give weight or any rebuff. ".

“When you happen to sit at the table with others, don’t eat like a pig, don’t clean your teeth with a knife, don’t make a fence of bones near your taler, don’t champ over food like a pig, don’t lick your fingers when you lay an egg, see that, moreover, don’t flowed out. Do not break eggshells, meanwhile, do not stain the tablecloths, do not cut bread to your breasts.

“When (where) to which place you come, where they eat or drink, then bow down and congratulate them on their food. And if they bring you something to drink, excuse yourself in part, then bow down and accept ... ".

“... take care of your clothes and books diligently, but don’t scatter them in the corners, be served, and don’t order yourself twice about one thing: and in this way you will receive mercy. Go willingly to churches and schools, and not past them.”

“Let no unprofitable word or obscene speech come out of your mouth ... do not do, nor prepare any quarrels ...”.

“Do not despise old or crippled people, be truthful in all matters. For there is no evil vice in a child, like a lie, and theft is born from a lie, and a rope around the neck comes from theft.

“Where two people speak secretly among themselves, do not approach there, for eavesdropping is shameless ignorance.”

But what seems to Peter I the most important: “... honoring parents, diligence, deanery, friendliness, mercy, bodily purity, modesty, abstinence, chastity, thrift, generosity, right-heartedness, and silence, and so on.”

“... you must run away from any impulse to malice, and any evil delusion: like evil conversations, unclean customs and deeds, bad words, frivolous and lovely clothes, prodigal letters, prodigal songs, bad fables, fairy tales, songs, stories, riddles, stupid proverbs and abusive fun and mockery, for this is an abomination before God.

“Nature gave us only one mouth, or mouth, and two ears were given, thus showing that it is more willing to listen than to speak.”

“Not a decent girl laughs with everyone, and talks, runs around the causal places and streets with a wide bosom, sits down with other good fellows, and men, pushes with her elbows, but does not sit still, but sings prodigal songs, a merrymaker and gets drunk drunk, jumps on tables and benches, allows himself to be dragged and dragged around all corners, like a bitch ... ".

"... if a girl loses shame and honor, then what can she have left."

“Among other virtues that adorn an honest lady or girl and are required of them, there is humility, the beginning and main virtue, which contains a lot in itself ...”.

Peter's reforms in the field of education and culture not only contributed to the Europeanization of Russia, but also prepared the ground for the flourishing of the subsequent, "golden" age of Russian culture.

Cultural transformations The era of Peter I (1672-1725) was a turning point in the history of our country. Gone in the past Ancient Rus'. Russia entered the New Age. Perhaps it is impossible to find a sphere that would not have undergone changes caused by the energy of an active king.

The nature of the reforms was greatly influenced by Peter's sympathy for the Western way of life and way of life, which originated in his early youth, during his frequent visits to the German Quarter in Moscow, where he made his first friends and where, according to a contemporary of Prince B. I. Kurakin . This irrational mental inclination, apparently, explains the great importance that Peter attached to reforms in the field of everyday life. The tsar personally cut the beards of the boyars. The nobles who came to the service with a beard and mustache were beaten with batogs. Merchants for trading in Russian clothes were threatened with a whip and hard labor. The activities of the same “everyday” order should include the establishment by order of the head of the St. Petersburg police on November 26, 1718, assemblies, which were a new form of leisure for the nobility. Women participated in the assemblies, which was not typical for the everyday life of the previous era. The order provided for the time, place and nature of the assemblies. Life ... B. I. Kurakin

Science and education ... 1. During the reign of Peter I big changes occurred in the field of education, culture, science. They were due to profound changes in the socio-economic life of the country, expanding ties with European states. A developing industry, a reformed army, a new state structure specialists of various profiles were required: sailors, engineers, architects, cartographers, just literate people. 2. Schools were opened: navigation, which since 1715 became the preparatory class for the established Naval Academy in St. Petersburg, artillery, engineering, medical school, school for the training of translators under the Ambassadorial order. Many young people went to study abroad. For the children of provincial nobles and officials, 42 “digital” schools were created, where 2,000 minors were taught literacy and arithmetic. According to the sovereign's decree of 1714, it was forbidden to marry those nobles who did not graduate from at least a “digital” school. The children of craftsmen studied in the mining schools, and the soldiers' children studied in the garrison schools. Of the subjects in the first place were mathematics, astronomy, engineering, fortification. Theology was taught only in diocesan schools, where the children of the clergy studied.

Science and education ... 3. New textbooks appeared, the most famous - "Arithmetic" Magnitsky (1703), which taught almost the entire XVIII century. Instead of Church Slavonic, a civil script similar to the modern one was introduced (1708) and Arabic numerals. In 1702, the first printed newspaper, Vedomosti, began to be published in Russia, reporting on the course of hostilities, events abroad, and the construction of factories. In 1700, Peter ordered that the beginning of the year be considered not on September 1, but on January 1, and at the same time introduced the counting of years from the birth of Christ, and not from the Creation of the world. 4. Under Peter I, the creation of the first museum in Russia, the Kunstkamera, began, which marked the beginning of the collection of historical and natural science collections. The king ordered to deliver there "ancient and unusual things": the skeletons of extinct animals, ancient manuscripts, vintage cannons, alcoholized monsters, anatomical collections. There was also a rich library, the book fund of which included 11,000 volumes. In 1719 the Kunstkamera was opened for free visiting. The creation of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences, opened in 1725, was of great importance for the development of science. the most important feature was that it was created by the state and from the very foundation was on its content, in contrast to the countries of Western Europe, where the academies themselves sought funds for their maintenance. A number of works on history are being created: “History of the Svean War”, co-authored by Peter I, “The Core of Russian History” by Mankiev.

Science and education ... 5. Peter I dreamed of laying a trade route from India to Europe through Russian territory. Numerous scientific expeditions compiled maps of the western coast of the Caspian Sea. Aral, Azov seas, Don basin. The Russians visited Kamchatka and the Kuriles. The “Atlas of the All-Russian Empire” by I.K. Kirilov appeared, geological surveys were carried out. S. U. Remezov compiled the "Drawing Book of Siberia". Shortly before his death, Peter signed an instruction to Commander V.I. Bering, who was supposed to establish whether there was a strait between Asia and America.

Architecture. Art. Literature. 1. Under Peter the Great, stone was widely used in civil engineering. During these years, the buildings of the Admiralty, Gostiny Dvor, Kunstkamera and other buildings were built in St. Petersburg. The building of the city was carried out according to the plan developed by the architects. The streets intersected at right angles, typical buildings stood close to each other, the palaces of the nobility were erected in 2-3 floors, with a facade to the street, each of them had its own appearance. 2. Peter I invited the famous Italian architect Domenico Trezzini, who built the Tsar's Summer Palace, the building of the Twelve Colleges and the Peter and Paul Cathedral. It was an elongated rectangular building, the so-called hall type, with a bell tower and a spire. The height of the spire is 112 m, higher than the bell tower of Ivan the Great.

Architecture. Art. Literature. 3. A special architectural style has developed in St. Petersburg, which is called Russian Baroque. organic compound Western and Russian artistic traditions in a single style made St. Petersburg one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Beginning in the 1720s, Russian architects began to play a dominant role in urban planning. I.K. Korobov built the Gostiny Dvor in Moscow, the architect I.P. Zarudny built the Menshikov Tower Church. Under the leadership of the Russian architect P. M. Eropkin, a general plan of St. Petersburg was drawn up. 4. At the beginning of the XVIII century. icon painting is being replaced by secular painting. Portrait painters sought to convey the individuality of the characters, the inner world of the characters. These are the portraits of Ivan Nikitin, whom Peter himself helped to become an artist, sending him to study in Italy, and then made him a court painter. The artist's brushes include many portraits of his contemporaries: Chancellor Golovkin, merchant G. Stroganov, he also painted the Tsar. The artist Andrei Matveev, by decree of the tsar, was trained in Holland. He created a religious composition in the Peter and Paul Cathedral. The artist's most famous painting is Self-Portrait with his Wife. "Self-portrait with his wife" Peter and Paul Cathedral

Architecture. Art. Literature. 5. Before Peter I, there was no public theater in Russia. True, under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, the court theater did not operate for long. By order of Peter I, a “comedy temple” was built on Red Square in Moscow, where German actors staged performances. In the theater at the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy there were amateur performances on biblical or ancient themes. The circle of reading has changed, especially among the townspeople, a new hero has appeared in literature - a brave, educated traveler. Such, for example, is the hero of the "History of Russian sailor Basil of Kariot". 6. Vice-President of the Synod Feofan Prokopovich in his works glorified the victories of Russian weapons, Peter the Great, whose power he declared “not subject to any laws”, that is, unlimited. Letters from the boyar Fyodor Saltykov from England to Peter I were published, in which he expressed the idea that the state should take care of the development of trade, industry, the interests of the nobility, and the enlightenment of the people.

Saint Petersburg! St. Petersburg, founded in 1703, was unique in its architectural appearance. and became the capital of the state in 1712. Petersburg was not only the favorite brainchild of the tsar, but also a symbol of his reign, an expression of the era of transformation. Petersburg differed from the old cities by its strict street layout, stone houses, street lighting, extensive parks, squares and boulevards. Petersburg is a fundamentally new architecture in Russia. It is based on the Dutch version of the Baroque with a restrained design and with a desire for maximum rationality. The representative of this trend was the outstanding architect D. Terezini. Avenues, canals, bridges, parks do honor to art, architecture, the entire Peter the Great era, its craftsmen, their talents and enormous creative industriousness. It is not for nothing that St. Petersburg is called Northern Palmyra.

Conclusion. However, we must not forget that all these transformations came exclusively from above, and therefore were quite painful for both the upper and lower strata of society. The violent nature of some of these transformations inspired disgust and led to a sharp rejection of the rest, even the most progressive ones, undertakings. Peter aspired to make Russia a European country in every sense of the word and attached great importance to even the smallest details of the process.