La visite de Pierre le Grand à Paris en 1717, ou la science au service du pouvoir

Abstract

Peter the Great in Paris (1717): or Science as Handmaid of Power The most emblematic highlight of the reign of Peter the Great that illustrates the transformation of Russia into an imperial state is the establishment of borders in the west and in the east. The tsar’s military victory over the Swedish Empire during the Great Northern War provided Russia with access to the Baltic Sea and, through the annexation of neighboring territories, redefined its western border. The political problems raised by the integration of people with new religious and cultural backgrounds turned out to be quite different from those resulting from the policy of territorial expansion later on carried out in the east. In addition to the fierce tribes of Siberia, Russia also had to face the powerful Qing dynasty which was itself in search of a redefinition of its imperial identity. While the diplomatic and military defeat on this front forced Russia to give up its claim to a vast territory along the Amur River, the definition of a border on the eastern reaches of Russia remained crucial for the further construction of the empire. The main purpose of this article is to show that in establishing this border, astronomy and geography played a more important role than diplomacy or the military - a situation of which Peter the Great was well aware: while his «Grand Embassy» aimed to import western technology, the second aimed above all to promote science, especially astronomy and geography.