Why did the new capital grow precisely in the delta of the Neva, and what task was its first fortress supposed to solve? Cultural expert Natalia Levkova will analyze the military and political situation at the beginning of the 18th century, the logic behind the choice of Zayachy Island, the history of the Prinevsky lands, and the events that determined the city's future. The emergence of Petersburg was linked to a specific military task. At the beginning of the 18th century, Russia was engaged in the Northern War and sought to establish itself on the shores of the Baltic. Control over the Neva opened the way from the interior regions of the country to the Gulf of Finland, so each fortification on this waterway had strategic significance. The lecture will help to see the foundation of the city as part of a larger struggle for territories, trade routes, and the security of new borders. Cultural expert Natalia Levkova will discuss what was happening in the Prinevsky lands before Peter's reforms. This territory was not an empty space: there were settlements, roads, and Swedish fortifications. After the capture of Noteburg and Nienhausen, Russian troops needed a new fortress closer to the mouth of the Neva, capable of controlling river traffic and protecting access to the sea. Where to go in St. Petersburg today, find on our website.