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Catherine II 'the
Great', Empress of Russia (1729-1796), is referred to as an
'enlightened monarch'. She shaped the Russian destiny to a
greater extent than almost anyone before or since, with the
exception of Peter the Great.
A German
Princess, born Sophie Augusta Fredericka, she married Peter III
of Russia and changed her name to 'Catherine' when she accepted
the Russian Orthodox faith. The marriage was unsuccessful due to
Peter Ill's mental immaturity. Soon Catherine became popular
with several powerful political groups. She corresponded with
many of the great minds of her era, including Voltaire and
Diderot. Peter's eccentricities and policies alienated many. He
was made to abdicate and was killed by Alexei Orlov in 1762.
Catherine became the Empress of Russia.
In 1785 Catherine
issued a charter that freed the nobles from state service and
taxes, made noble status hereditary, and gave the nobles full
control over their serfs and lands. Catherine proceeded to
'westernize' Russia. After a peasant revolt in 1773 led by
Yemelyan Pugachev, Catherine instituted several drastic reforms.
First, she encouraged the modernization of agriculture and
industry. Second, she supported foreign investment in
economically underdeveloped areas. Third, Catherine encouraged
education for the nobles and middle class. She gave equal rights
to Muslims in Russia, including the right to build mosques.
Catherine made
Russia the dominant power in the Middle East after her first
Russo-Turkish War against the Ottoman Empire (1768— 1774). She
annexed the Crimea in 1783. All told, she added some 518,000
square km to Russian territory. She also encouraged the
colonization of Alaska and of conquered areas.
Catherine
subscribed to the Enlightenment and considered herself a
'philosopher on the throne.' She became known as a patron of the
arts, literature and education. The Hermitage Museum was begun
as Catherine's personal collection. She founded the famous
Smolny Institute for noble young ladies. Gavrila Derzhavin and
other writers of her epoch, supported by Catherine, laid the
foundation for the great writers of the nineteenth century.
However, her reign was also marked by censorship. When
Radishchev published his Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow
in 1790, Catherine had him exiled to Siberia. Catherine died on
November 5, 1796, and was buried at the St. Peter and St. Paul
Fortress in Saint Petersburg.
Translate the
following sentences into English.
1. Екатерина II Великая была немецкой принцессой, которая
вышла замуж за Петра III, приняла православную веру и стала
императрицей.
2. Она переписывалась со многими великими умами своей эпохи и
была сторонницей просвещения.
3. Она издала указ, по которому дворянство освобождалось от
государственной службы и налогов, сделала дворянское звание
наследственным и дала дворянству полную власть над крепостными
крестьянами и землей.
4. Она продолжала «вестернизацию» России и провела коренные
реформы, направленные на модернизацию экономики, а также
поддерживала иностранные капиталовложения в слаборазвитые районы
России.
5. Она также поощряла образование дворянства и среднего класса и
дала мусульманам в России равные права.
6. Екатерина сделала Россию ведущей державой на Ближнем Востоке,
аннексировала Крым и поощряла колонизацию Аляски и завоеванных
территорий.
7. Она стала покровительницей искусств, основала Эрмитаж и
Смольный институт благородных девиц.
8. Ее правление ознаменовалось также цензурой, она сослала
Радищева в Сибирь.
1. Catherine II 'the Great' was a German
Princess who married Peter III, accepted Orthodox faith and
became the Empress of Russia.
2. She corresponded with many great minds of her era and
subscribed to the Enlightenment.
3. She issued a charter that freed the nobles from state service
and taxes, made noble status hereditary, and gave the nobles
full control over their serfs and lands.
4. She proceeded to 'westernize' Russia and instituted drastic
reforms which encouraged the modernization of economy and
supported foreign investment in underdeveloped areas of Russia.
5. She also encouraged education for the nobles and the middle
class and gave equal rights to Muslims in Russia.
6. Catherine made Russia the dominant power in the Middle East,
annexed the Crimea and encouraged the colonization of Alaska and
of the conquered areas.
7. She became the patron of arts, founded the Hermitage museum
and the Smolny Institute for noble young ladies.
8. Her reign was also marked by censorship, she had Radishev
exiled to Siberia.
Из пособия "ЕГЭ. Английский язык.
Устные темы" Занина Е.Л. (2010, 272с.) - Part
two.
Additional topics.
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