From 1700, Peter I gave industrial development immense importance. Metallurgical and manufacturing industries were created on a large scale. Industrialists were given various privileges including the right to buy peasant serfs for labor in workshops. Studies were conducted on the industrial methods used in other countries and foreign experts were employed. The foreign trade turnover increased seven times during the reign of Peter I and by the middle of the 18th century, Russia had overtaken Europe in metallurgical industry.
Answer: He initiated a wide range of economic, social, political, administrative, educational and military reforms which ended the dominance of traditionalism and religion in Russia and initiated its westernization.
