Final answer:
Moscow's rise to importance in Russia is due to various factors, including the defense needs and trading networks following rivers, but not central place theory.
Step-by-step explanation:
When discussing Moscow's rise to importance in Russia, the rule of Tsar Peter (A) is often credited with westernizing the country and contributing significantly to its development. Peter the Great, as he was known, implemented several reforms aimed at modernizing Russia along Western European lines and established St. Petersburg as a new capital. However, Moscow remained a significant center of power due to other factors such as its central location and the defense needs of Russia (C) against invasions. Moscow also benefited from trading networks that followed rivers (D), especially the Volga River, which has been an important transportation network for centuries. Hence, it was a natural point for trade expansion. However, it is incorrect to attribute Moscow's rise to central place theory (B), which is an economic principle that explains the patterns of urban places across various geographical areas, not a historical cause for the ascension of a specific city.