ABSTRACT

One of the most important developments in the history of world science has been the spread of the ideas and practices developed in Europe to other societies, a phenomenon caused by both "push" and "pull" factors. In Russia, the introduction of science was part of an effort by elites, initially led by Tsar Peter the Great, to make their culture more "Western." This effort involved many other areas besides science, and was accompanied by a political and cultural opening to the West and efforts to attract Western scientists to settle and work in Russia. The Japanese had far less direct contact with Westerners than the Russians or many other non-Western peoples, such as the Chinese and the Ottoman Turks. The culmination of Peter's efforts to bring Western knowledge and techniques to Russia was the founding of the country's first academy of sciences in 1724, shortly before his death.