Peter the Great Shaves Russia | HISTORY This Week | Full Podcast

Sept 5, 1698. Tsar Peter the Great of Russia returns home from a year-long European tour. When noblemen, religious figures, and friends gather to welcome him home, Peter pulls out a straight razor, holds it to their throats, and…forcibly shaves their beards. This event will go down in history as a first step toward Russian geopolitical power. Before Peter’s reign, Russia was an isolated nation that was largely ignored by the rest of the world. How did Peter the Great almost single-handedly drag Russia onto the world stage? And how did his great beard-shaving endeavor lead to the Russia we know today? Special thanks to our guest, Lynne Hartnett, Ph.D., Professor of History, Villanova University, and author of Understanding Russia: A Cultural History. Artwork: Russian political cartoon depicting Peter the Great as a barber, ca. 18th century ** This episode originally aired August 31, 2020. Credits: McCamey Lynn | Producer Chris Boniello | Sound Designer Emma Fredericks | Researcher Sally Helm | Host/Producer Jessie Katz | Executive Producer Ted Butler | Executive Producer Get in touch: [email protected] Follow on Instagram: @historythisweek Follow on Facebook: ⁠HISTORY This Week Podcast⁠ To stay updated: http://historythisweekpodcast.com Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2YFm0ez... Audacy: https://www.audacy.com/podcast/histor... Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/htw #HISTORY #rulapod Don't miss a video! Subscribe NOW:    / @history   Chapters: 00:00 Peter The Great’s Beard Purge 07:14 Russia Before Peter The Great 10:49 Palace Intrigue And A Traumatized Boy Zar 16:04 Peter Becomes Sole Ruler Of Russia 17:01 The Great Embassy And Western Lessons 20:11 Return To Moscow And Forced Shaving 25:21 Building A European Great Power 26:29 From Peter The Great To Putin ABOUT THE HISTORY CHANNEL: The HISTORY® Channel, a division of A+E Global Media, is the premier destination for historical storytelling. From best-in-class documentary events, to a signature slate of industry leading nonfiction series and premium fact-based scripted programming, The HISTORY® Channel serves as the most trustworthy source of informational entertainment in media. FOLLOW HISTORY CHANNEL: Watch Full Episodes: https://www.history.com/videos Sign Up For History Emails: https://www.history.com/emails/sign-up Browse Topical Videos: https://www.history.com/topics Facebook:   / history   Instagram:   / history   TikTok:   / history   X:   / history   YouTube:    / @history   Copyright Notice: This video and my YouTube channel contain dialog, music, and images that are property of The HISTORY® Channel. You are authorized to share the video link and channel, and embed this video in your website or others as long as a link back to our YouTube Channel is provided. © 2025 The HISTORY® Channel Peter the Great Shaves Russia | HISTORY This Week | Full Podcast    / @history