Catherine II ‘the Great’
Catherine II ‘the Great’, Empress of Russia (1729-1796), is referred to as an ‘enlightened monarch’. She shaped the Russian destiny to a greater extent than almost anyone before or since, with the exception of Peter the Great.
A German Princess, born Sophie Augusta Fredericka, she married Peter III of Russia and changed her name to ‘Catherine’ when she accepted the Russian Orthodox faith. The marriage was unsuccessful due to Peter Ill’s mental immaturity. Soon Catherine became popular with several powerful political groups. She corresponded with many of the great minds of her era, including Voltaire and Diderot. Peter’s eccentricities and policies alienated many. He was made to abdicate and was killed by Alexei Orlov in 1762. Catherine became the Empress of Russia.
In 1785 Catherine issued a charter that freed the nobles from state service and taxes, made noble status hereditary, and gave the nobles full control over their
Catherine made Russia the dominant power in the Middle East after her first Russo-Turkish War against the Ottoman Empire (1768- 1774). She annexed the Crimea in 1783. All told, she added some 518,000 square km to Russian territory. She also encouraged the colonization of Alaska and of conquered areas.
Catherine subscribed to the Enlightenment and considered herself a ‘philosopher on the throne.’ She became known as a patron of the arts, literature and education. The Hermitage Museum was begun as Catherine’s personal collection. She founded the famous Smolny Institute for noble young ladies. Gavrila Derzhavin and other writers of her epoch, supported by Catherine, laid the foundation for the great writers of the nineteenth century. However, her reign was also marked by censorship. When Radishchev published his Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow in 1790, Catherine had him exiled to Siberia. Catherine died
on November 5, 1796, and was buried at the St. Peter and St. Paul Fortress in Saint Petersburg.Translate the following sentences into English.
1. Екатерина II Великая была немецкой принцессой, которая вышла замуж за Петра III, приняла православную веру и стала императрицей.
2. Она переписывалась со многими великими умами своей эпохи и была сторонницей просвещения.
3. Она издала указ, по которому дворянство освобождалось от государственной службы и налогов, сделала дворянское звание наследственным и дала дворянству полную власть над крепостными крестьянами и землей.
4. Она продолжала “вестернизацию” России и провела коренные реформы, направленные на модернизацию экономики, а также поддерживала иностранные капиталовложения в слаборазвитые районы России.
5. Она также поощряла образование дворянства и среднего класса и дала мусульманам в России равные права.
6. Екатерина сделала Россию ведущей державой на Ближнем Востоке, аннексировала Крым и поощряла колонизацию Аляски и завоеванных территорий.
7. Она стала покровительницей искусств, основала Эрмитаж и Смольный институт благородных девиц.
8. Ее правление ознаменовалось также цензурой, она сослала Радищева в Сибирь.
1. Catherine II ‘the Great’ was a German Princess who married Peter III, accepted Orthodox faith and became the Empress of Russia.
2. She corresponded with many great minds of her era and subscribed to the Enlightenment.
3. She issued a charter that freed the nobles from state service and taxes, made noble status hereditary, and gave the nobles full control over their serfs and lands.
4. She proceeded to ‘westernize’ Russia and instituted drastic reforms which encouraged the modernization of economy and supported foreign investment in underdeveloped areas of Russia.
5. She also encouraged education for the nobles and the middle class and gave equal rights to Muslims in Russia.
6. Catherine made Russia the dominant power in the Middle East, annexed the Crimea and encouraged the colonization of Alaska and of the conquered areas.
7. She became the patron of arts, founded the Hermitage museum and the Smolny Institute for noble young ladies.
8. Her reign was also marked by censorship, she had Radishev exiled to Siberia.
Из пособия “ЕГЭ. Английский язык. Устные темы” Занина Е. Л. (2010, 272с.) – Part two. Additional topics.
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