What did the Peace of Nystad change for Estonia in 1721?

The Peace of Nystad, signed in 1721, marked the formal conclusion of the Great Northern War between Sweden and Russia.

Under the terms of this treaty, Sweden officially ceded its Baltic provinces, including Estonia, to the Russian Empire. This transfer of territory ended the period of Swedish rule in the region and solidified Russia's emergence as a major power in the Baltic area. Following this change in sovereignty, the local social and agrarian conditions for the peasantry remained difficult, eventually leading to subsequent reforms in the 19th century, such as the abolition of serfdom.12