Final answer:
Empress Elizabeth was the only effective ruler between the death of Peter the Great and the rise of Catherine the Great, known for continuing modernization and maintaining stability.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the lecture content provided, the only effective ruler between the death of Peter the Great and the seizure of power by Catherine the Great was Empress Elizabeth. She came to the throne after a coup in 1741 and ruled until her death in 1762. Empress Elizabeth was known to continue some of the modernization efforts initiated by Peter the Great, and her reign witnessed relative stability and the continuation of the westernization and expansion policies that were characteristic of the earlier Romanov rulers. While Elizabeth was seen as an enlightened ruler, it was Catherine II, known as Catherine the Great, who is widely recognized for fully embracing the enlightenment ideals and significantly expanding the Russian Empire. According to the information provided, the only effective ruler between the death of Peter the Great and the seizure of power by Catherine the Great was Empress Elizabeth (f). Elizabeth Petrovna, daughter of Peter the Great, ruled as the Empress of Russia from 1741 to 1762. Her reign is often considered a stabilizing period, marked by diplomatic achievements and cultural advancements. Elizabeth pursued a policy of relative internal tranquility, favoring the arts and expanding Russia's influence abroad. While her successor Catherine the Great is celebrated for her extensive reforms, Elizabeth's reign is recognized as a time of relative calm and constructive governance in the transitional period following Peter the Great's rule.