1721

1721 was a year in the early 18th century marked by significant geopolitical change and ongoing imperial expansion. The most consequential event was the conclusion of the Great Northern War between Russia and Sweden with the signing of the Treaty of Nystad. The treaty granted Russia substantial Baltic territories, including Ingria, Estonia, Livonia, and parts of Karelia, and secured Russia permanent access to the Baltic Sea. For Sweden, the settlement ended its status as a great northern power, while for Russia it solidified its emergence as a major European power.

In the same year, Peter the Great was proclaimed Emperor of Russia, marking the formal establishment of the Russian Empire and signaling a shift in imperial title from Tsar to Emperor. This change reflected broader efforts to modernize and centralize the Russian state that characterized his reign.

Beyond Europe, European colonial powers continued to expand their overseas networks. The British East India Company and other trading entities pursued operations in Asia and the Americas, contributing to the global expansion of commerce and empire during the early 18th century. The year also saw ongoing scientific and cultural activity across Europe as Enlightenment ideas continued to influence scholarship and public life.

Overall, 1721 contributed to a reordering of power in northern Europe and a broader pattern of imperial expansion that would shape subsequent decades.