Those who fled were brought back as runaways, and those who attempted flight a second time were ordered to be flogged and transported to Siberia.* * See the "Ulozhenie" (i.e.the laws of Alexis, father of Peter the Great), chap.xix.

13.
With the eighteenth century began a new era in the history of the towns and of the urban population.

Peter the Great observed, during his travels in Western Europe, that national wealth and prosperity reposed chiefly on the enterprising, educated middle classes, and he attributed the poverty of his own country to the absence of this burgher element.
Might not such a class be created in Russia?
Peter unhesitatingly assumed that it might, and set himself at once to create it in a simple, straightforward way.

Foreign artisans were imported into his dominions and foreign merchants were invited to trade with his subjects; young Russians were sent abroad to learn the useful arts; efforts were made to disseminate practical knowledge by the translation of foreign books and the foundation of schools; all kinds of trade were encouraged, and various industrial enterprises were organised.

At the same time the administration of the towns was thoroughly reorganised after the model of the ancient free-towns of Germany.