Peter the Great was born Pyotr Alekseyevich on June 9, 1672 in Moscow, Russia. Peter was declared Sovereign of all Russia after his brother Ivan died in 1696. Peter inherited a nation that was undeveloped compared to most countries in Europe. While other countries in Europe were going through the Renaissance and the Reformation Russia had rejected westernization ash remain isolated from modernization. During Peter's reign he wished to make Russia into a modern country. In 1697 Peter disguised himself as a private citizen and he visited many European countries, while there he learned many things about scientist and builders. He focused on the development of science and he hired many experts to educate the people of Russian on technological
