Peter the Great went on a nearly two-year excursion through Western Europe to gain first-hand information on how other countries achieved a successful economic environment and the role they played by the military in managing these countries. This leader was confident that a new version of Russia would not work without changing the relationship between government and people. Russia's modernization helped change military organization, built the great city of St. Petersburg, and even provided Russian agriculture with a new crop, potatoes. Peter the Great's reform of Russia was greatly influenced by these visits, and change was set in motion through his trip to Western Europe. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayPeter the Great and his embassy of other young Russians began their expedition in 1697. Previously, others had been sent to observe parts of Europe, but Peter also decided to go there. First-hand experience of how other countries were governed seemed to be the best course of action. Europe did not need to be informed of the arrival of the leading political figure. “The plan he had formulated was not to travel openly in his own name, because he knew that in this case much of his time and attention, in the various courts and capitals, would be wasted in the great parades, processions and ceremonies with the which different sovereigns would no doubt seek to honor his visit.” The goal was simply to observe the procedures and defenses of various governments in an unfiltered light, without pomp and circumstance. At the beginning of the journey from Moscow, the first stop was the Gulf of Riga, located on the Baltic Sea. The goal of this part of the journey was to obtain territory with access to the sea. At that time there was no navy in Russia and the army needed to be updated. Peter also wanted to see the fortifications (new defense wall) of Riga, but the governor told him no. Konigsberg, located in Prussia, was the choice for the embassy's next stop. Here the main objective was to learn about the ships of the Prussians and how the ships would successfully sail the seas. Peter accomplished this by learning to navigate from one place to another. As Peter the Great approached his next stop in Holland, this location interested him most. “The expedition thus continued along the coasts of the Baltic Sea, in the direction of Holland, which was the country that Peter most eagerly desired to see. In every city where they stopped, Peter went to examine the ships." Peter did not want to be honored when he arrived in a country, but the Dutch people had discovered that he traveled with the Embassy, ​​and whenever the Embassy entered some part of Holland he was celebrated. Peter never participated in the festivities as he was there to learn and not to be worshiped, so he would have actually disguised himself. When the Embassy passed through Amsterdam, crowds of people still gathered to show their respect. “The Dutch government and people took a very great interest in this embassy, ​​not only because of its splendor and the greatness of imperial power it represented, but also because of the economic and financial considerations it entailed. ”.During the Embassy's next stop in Amsterdam, a palace had been prepared for the members of this group, but in keeping with his goal of integrating into the culture, a small house or hut was procured for Peter's stay. It was here that Peter the Great finally saw what he had come to Holland for: the Dutch East India Company. The Dutch East India CompanyEasterners were a huge deal to see because of the large shipyards and location to build the boats. “Amsterdam, in Peter's time was the largest port in Europe and the richest city in the world” ( Massie 183). Peter met a man named PeterMichaelhoff, a shipwright. “He lived here several months and devoted himself diligently to his work” (Abbott 132). Peter the Great worked with the laborers and wore the same clothes; he wanted to learn to build boats. “Peter bought a sailing boat for 450 florins and installed a new mas and bowsprit with his own hands” (Massie 182). In his free time, when he was tired, he drove boats to feel more comfortable with different types of boats. The leader acquired great knowledge of ship carpentry, but was disappointed by the lack of information on the “fundamental secrets of ship design”. "He felt that in England ship carpentry had been reduced to a regular science, and that the shapes and patterns of the ships built there were determined by fixed mathematical principles, which every skillful and intelligent workman was expected to understand and practice upon" ( Abbott 140). Peter was ready to hear more. It was time for Peter to move to London, the second richest city at that time behind Amsterdam. As he visited London and wandered around the city, the architecture of the buildings became an asset that would help in the construction of St. Petersburg. His main purpose, however, was still to gain knowledge about shipbuilding. Peter got to see the people of London working on the ships and how they had it down to a science. “When he was in the shipyard he studied this subject very carefully; and although it was, of course, impossible that in so short a time he should be able to master it completely, he still managed to obtain such a general insight into the nature of the method as to assist him greatly in making arrangements for introducing it into his own country.” He now considered his long stay in Holland a waste of time. In England there were progress and precise methods. During his stay in England, the working methods remained the same and he was once again at the side of the working class. Working with these men in England was essential to learning how they applied mathematics to shipbuilding. He stayed in London until he thought he had been visiting too long. “Peter went to Portsmouth to visit the Royal Navy there at anchor.” “…In the city of Portsmouth there is a deep and spacious harbor entirely surrounded and protected by land.” The opposite of where Portsmouth is in a place called Spithead. Spithead is where many of the English Navy's ships are held. The king told the admiral, who was in charge of the English navy, to escort Peter to Spithead. This was the only way Peter could get there. When Peter finally left England, he was given a yacht by the king, titled The Royal Transport. Two of the next scheduled stops were planned in Vienna and Rome. Unfortunately, due to the rebellion in the city of Moscow, it became necessary to return to Russia to handle the issues that arose. Although they did not act on their complaints until the end of his trip, the Russians had begun conspiring against Peter after he had been gone for only a couple of months. Several matters immediately required his attention. His sister Sophia now wanted to rule alone. When Pietro learned of this upon his return, Sophia was practically forced to become a nun. The next problem was with the Streltsy; The Streltsy were part of the Russian armed infantry. «But Peter destroyed the Streltsy and the popular uprisings achieved nothing. In the end the power was in his hands” (Conybeare 90). After having.