What was Russia like before peter the greats rule?

Answer 1

Russia adopted Orhtodox Christianity in 990 AD from Byzantium because this was the most powerful political ally Russian princes could get at the time. However, in 1054, the great schism occured between the Orthodox chruch and the Roman Catholic church (this isolated Russia from much of the western world). The Mongols also invaded, and caused Russia to be driven apart from Europe. and by 1453 the fall of constantinople meant that the Orthodox religion had somewhat collapsed.

Answer 2

Russia in the 17th cent. was still medieval in culture and outlook, and it was not regarded as a member of the European community of nations. In its economic development it was centuries behind Western Europe; distrust of foreign ways and innovations kept its inhabitants ignorant and isolated. The consolidation of central power was effected not with the help of the almost nonexistent middle class or by social reforms but by forcibly depriving the nobility and gentry of their political influence. The nobles were compensated with land grants and with increasing rights over the peasants. Thus serfdom, which became a legal institution in Russia in 1649, included growing numbers of persons and became increasingly oppressive. The process of enserfment, which reached its peak in the 18th cent., resulted in several violent peasant revolts, notably those led by Stenka Razin (1667-71) and by Pugachev (1773-75).

Answer 3

Russia was less advanced.