Peter the Great and Russia's Window to Asia

Peter the Great has gone done in history as the tsar who opened Russia to Europe and converted it into a European great power. Asia has been overlooked in this narrative. However impressive the transformation and rise of Petrine Russia-both were possible because Russia had been an empire in Asia for centuries and remained one until its demise. This article examines the impact Peter's pivot to Western Europe had for Russia's territories and neighbours in Asia. On the one hand, Tsar Peter maintained the trade and diplomatic relations his predecessors had established; on the other hand, he failed to change power relations in Asia-in contrast to his decisive military success in Northeast Europe. Although Peter was intrigued by the .,West", his respect for and interest in China, Japan or India formed one pillar of his politics. To make Russia a cultural and economic bridge linking Europa with Asia, was a dream that originated in the Petrine period-A nd has lasted until today. Since the 19th century research has focussed more on Russia in Europe than on Russia in Asia, thus reflecting the self-image of Peter and later tsars as European rulers. © 2018 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin/Boston.