Why did Peter the Great build the city of St. Petersburg?

Peter the Great built the city of St. Petersburg primarily to create a seaport that would facilitate trade with Western Europe, which was crucial for modernizing Russia’s economy and military. By establishing St. Petersburg on the Baltic Sea, Peter aimed to give Russia direct access to European trade routes, allowing the nation to import technological innovations and ideas that were essential to his vision of modernization. The city's strategic location was intended to serve as a "window to the West," symbolizing Russia's desire to connect with and learn from more advanced European nations.

This move reflected Peter’s goal of transforming Russia into a major European power and breaking away from its historical isolationism. The architecture and urban planning of St. Petersburg also drew on European influences, making it not just a hub for trade but also an embodiment of Peter’s reforms aimed at Westernization.