enginesinrepair: KICKASS WOMEN IN HISTORY : [5/5] CATHERINE THE GREAT Catherine II was the

enginesinrepair:KICKASS WOMEN IN HISTORY : [5/5] CATHERINE THE GREATCatherine II was the Empress of Russia (June 28, 1762 - November 17, 1796). She’s known in history as Catherine the Great — modeled after Peter the Great — though she eschewed the title in her lifetime.In its own right the reign of Catherine the Great was impressive, but it was made all the more important because she was a women. She continued Peter the Great’s reforms of the Russian state, further increasing central control over the provinces. Her goal was to rationalize and reform the administration of the Russian Empire. One of the most prosperous periods for Russia, Catherine undertook a wide range of internal political reforms, and waged two successful wars against the Ottoman Empire and extend the borders of Russia . Her achievements played a key role in the development of Russia as a modern state not only in a political sense but also in a cultural sense. Commissioning building all over Russia , Catherine founded academies, journals, libraries, and corresponded with French Encyclopedists, including Voltaire, Diderot, and d’Alembert. Also, Catherine is notorious for her love affairs, which included Gregory Orlov and Gregor Potemkin. Upon her death in 1796 she was succeeded by her son Paul I. Her achievements would live on a help propel Russia to become a major world power after her death. -- source link

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