ABSTRACT
In 1697-1698 the Russian Tsar Peter the First went to Western Europe with a Russian Diplomatic Mission, the Grand Embassy (Великое посольство). Its main aims were to strengthen the economic and diplomatic ties between Europe and Russia. Travelling incognito under the name of Pyotr Mikhaylov, the young Russian tsar learned about the customs, culture and scientifi c advances of the West. The extract in this chapter is taken from an essay by the Russian historian G.M. Karpov and tells us about Peter the Great’s visit to England.
