What policies of Peter did Catherine continue?

Answer 1

She was not a direct descendant of Peter. Elizabeth brought Catherine to Russia from Germany to marry Fredrick also from Germany. They had both been from small distantly related noble . Catherine became Russian in all aspects. She learned Russian, joined the church, and took on all aspects of Russia. Fredrick was less so and was only interested in dressing in uniforms and playing soldier, so he was less interested in ruling. It took Catherine several years to gain power. At first she was under the rule of Elizabeth and then her husband who played with tin soldiers on their bed. Their marriage was never an intimate one so she took lovers and all three of her children were from these men. It was one of the lovers that helped her to take the crown. As soon as she gained control she began reforms. She did want to enlarge the size of Russia as Peter had done,grow naval strength, and continue building in St. Petersburg. She built a winter palace in the center of the city and a summer palace outside the city. The winter palace is now the world class art museum The Hermitage. She also began the art collection that it now contains. Her government policies were more democratic than those of Peter and she tried to eliminate the system of serfdom, but never quite managed it. So, to some extent she did continue his policies and in other ways she didn't.