Final answer:
Tsar Peter the Great aimed to modernize and empower Russia to match Western European nations. He pursued reforms that stimulated economic development and military strength. However, subsequent tsars' resistance to political reform led to Russia trailing behind Europe in progress.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tsar Peter the Great sought to consolidate power in Russia in an effort to modernize the nation and establish it as a major European power. Understanding that Russia was economically underdeveloped and technologically backward in comparison to Western Europe, Peter embarked on a journey to Europe to learn about shipbuilding, administrative techniques, and other advancements.
Economic envy and the desire to leverage Russia's immense natural resources played a role in his determination to introduce reforms and undercut the expansionist motives of an autocratic government. Despite the sheer size of Russia and its status as the largest kingdom in the world, it remained largely unoccupied and primitive before Peter's efforts to modernize.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, Russia expanded its territory significantly under rulers like Peter and Catherine the Great. The acquisition of lands on the Baltic and Black seas was part of the strategic expansion to strengthen the empire. Throughout the 1800s, continued expansion into Central Asia resulted in a vast empire. However, autocratic tsars, like Nicholas II, resisted checks on their authority and political reforms which kept Russia from advancing as quickly as its European counterparts.