Peter the Great is remembered for modernizing Russia, expanding its territory, and bolstering its status as a major European power, yet his absolute rule partly hindered economic development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Peter the Great is considered great because he significantly transformed Russia into a major European power through extensive reforms and territorial expansion. He modernized the Russian military and government, drawing inspiration from European administrative techniques and shipbuilding, which he studied while traveling in disguise in Europe for 18 months. Moreover, Peter the Great, along with successors like Catherine the Great, pursued policies of westernization and expanded Russia's frontiers, acquiring lands on the Baltic and Black seas and pushing into Central Asia. This expansion resulted in Russia becoming the largest kingdom in the world by 1815, influencing Europe's political landscape. Despite these remarkable achievements, his reign also maintained autocratic control and did not fully succeed in economic development, as reforms that might undermine absolute rule were often resisted.