Final answer:
Peter the Great's efforts substantially transformed Russia by modernizing its administrative and military structures, expanding its borders, and initiating the process of westernization. However, due to the autocratic nature of governance, Russia remained economically underdeveloped compared to Europe, and social disparities persisted, leading to political unrest and setting the groundwork for future revolutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Evaluation of Peter the Great's Transformation of Russia
Peter the Great's reign marked a period of significant transformation for Russia in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. His modernization efforts were crucial in positioning Russia as a world power later in the 18th and 19th centuries. By adopting European administrative techniques and emphasizing shipbuilding, Peter the Great propelled Russia toward becoming the largest empire in the world by 1815, extending from the Black Sea to the Pacific Ocean. His actions instigated the westernization of Russia, which was characterized by an economic envy of Europe and a fear of Russia's expansionist motives under an autocratic government.
However, by the 1800s, despite attempts by tsars to modernize the country, Russia remained economically underdeveloped due to reforms that were seen to undermine absolute rule. The government, based on an autocratic monarchy, hindered industrial growth, maintaining a primary focus on agriculture. Social and political changes, including wars and internal uprisings, challenged the empire's stability. Despite emancipation and advances in trade and infrastructure, such as the introduction of railroads, the disparities between the aristocracy and peasantry continued. These conditions ultimately led to social unrest and set the stage for the 1905 Revolution and subsequent political turmoil.
Russia's territorial expansion under rulers such as Catherine the Great, and later Alexander III's ethnic policies, particularly against Jews, also reflect the broader scope of transformative actions instigated during Peter the Great's rule, shaping the empire's geopolitical and social landscapes.