Everything Everywhere Daily Catherine the Great
Jun 4, 2025
Catherine the Great transformed Russia into a powerful empire through strategic territorial expansion and cultural reforms. She skillfully blended Enlightenment ideals with autocratic rule, promoting education and the arts. Despite her progressive vision, her reign faced contradictions, especially with intensified serfdom and social unrest. The complexities of her legacy include her relationships, especially with her son Paul I, and the ongoing debate about her impact on Russian society.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Catherine's Non-Russian Origin
- Catherine the Great was born a German princess and was not Russian by birth. - She fully embraced Russian culture, language, and Orthodoxy to become genuinely Russian rather than remaining foreign.
Coup Over Inheritance
- Catherine seized power through a well-planned palace coup, not inheritance. - Her coup succeeded due to broad support she had built in the military, clergy, and nobility.
Golden Age and Enlightened Absolutism
- Catherine's reign marked a golden age with reforms in law, administration, and culture. - She aimed to combine enlightened ideas with absolute autocratic control, shaping modern Russia.