Period 1 & 6
During the period of 1600s up until 1861, Russian was an agrarian society. Most people were peasants who lived under serfdom. The feudal lords, known as boyars, were allowed to own the serfs
Serfs were not allowed to own land or to inherit any land. They also gave a significant amount of what they owned to their feudal lords.
Needed permission to marry.
Could not owe property, buy land, own a business. Paid taxes to the state.
Russia was an absolute monarchy. This means the tsar had all the power. There was no parliament or any elected leaders.
Significant Leaders
Catherine the Great: German princess who ruthlessly plotted the killing of her husband and took the throne.
Introduced smallpox vaccines to Russia, saving lives
Created a school for girls
Kept system of serfdom the same.
In 1861, Emancipation of the Serfs happened, which meant that feudal lords no longer owned slaves and they could buy out the land they worked. Caused own problems because of small plots of land.
Alexander II Is known as the last great Czar because emancipated the serfs. He was also ready to do a reform of the system, which would have included the creation of a constitution and a parliament. Three days before the signing, however, he was assassinated.
In 1861, Emancipation of the Serfs happened, which meant that feudal lords no longer owned slaves and they could buy out the land they worked. Caused own problems because of small plots of land.
Nicolas II was the last tsar. Story of Rasputin.
Watch the video and write down 3 facts about rasputin
Important Russian Work: War and Peace. (1869) Leo Tolstoy Book is still used today to evaluate war strategy!
Effects, class struggle, peasants were still poor.
1 thought on “The Russian Empire”