Peter the Great, the Russian Tsar, is known for his many reforms that modernized Russia. One of his significant reforms was the introduction of the Julian calendar in Russia in 1699. The Julian calendar, named after Julius Caesar, was the predominant calendar in Europe at the time. Peter the Great adopted this calendar to align Russia with the rest of Europe and improve communication and trade.
The adoption of the Julian calendar by Peter the Great had a profound impact on Russian society. The Julian calendar differed from the previous Russian calendar in that it had a different system for calculating leap years. This change resulted in a 12-day difference between the Russian calendar and the rest of Europe.
Peter The Great Julian Calendar
This discrepancy caused confusion and difficulties in international affairs and trade. To address this issue, Peter the Great decreed that Russia would skip 11 days in September 1700 to align with the Julian calendar used in Europe. This event became known as the “Great Shift” or “Peter’s time reform.”
The Legacy of Peter The Great’s Calendar Reform
Peter the Great’s calendar reform was a significant step towards modernizing Russia and aligning it with the rest of Europe. The adoption of the Julian calendar improved communication, trade, and diplomatic relations with other European countries. It also laid the foundation for future calendar reforms in Russia.
Today, Peter the Great’s Julian calendar reform is remembered as one of his many achievements in shaping Russia into a more modern and progressive society. The impact of his reforms can still be seen in Russian society today.