Epic History Documentaries: Russia

2022-03-11T10:41:54+02:00

Society, tsardom and the Crimean War

2022-01-26T09:43:07+02:00

Textbook: Imperial Russia, Revolutions and the Emergence of the Soviet State 1853-1924. By Sally Waller. History for the IB Diploma. Cambridge University Press. ISBN978-1-107-68489-8

A. The nature of Russian society
TASK 1: Create small groups (3 members). Study and analyze the sources (statistics, maps) attached below and make a list of the facts describing the Russian society.
Send you answer to the group return binder below.

B. The nature of the state/ tsardom
* In 1833 Sergei Uvarov, Tsar Nicholas I's minister of education, proposed that the guiding principles of the tsarist regime should be 'Autocracy, Orthodoxy and Nationality'.

1. 'Autocracy'
TASK 2: According to the following source, what were the duties and responsibilities of an autocratic state and its ruler?
"Russia is an autocratic state. Its size, the variety of its inhabitants and customs and many other considerations make this the only natural form of government for Russia. All arguments to the contrary are futile and the least weakening of autocratic power would result in the loss of many provinces, the weakening of the state, and countless misfortunes for the people. An autocratic sovereign if he possesses the qualities befitting his rank must feel that he has been given unlimited power not to rule according to is whim but respect and implement the laws established by his ancestors and by himself; in short having spoken his law he is himself the first to respect and obey it so that others may not even dare to think of evading or escaping it." Extract from a memorandum by Prince Bezborodko, Imperial Chancellor of Russia, in 1799.

2. 'Orthodoxy'
- By 'orthodoxy' was meant faith in God, the divine will of the tsar, and with it the Russian Orthodox Church
- The Church was the defender of the Tsar (until the reign of Alexander II, priests declared a curse on all who did not acknowledge that the tsars were divinely appointed)

3. 'Nationality'
- 'Nationality' was interpreted as a union of the Russian Orthodox Church with autocracy to make the Russian nation
- Russianism based on the belief that Russia´s history and geography gave its individual character, different beliefs, ambitions and outlook signified by serfdom

C. The Crimean War (1853-1856)
> on texbook pages 16 - 17/ 19 - 20
TASK 4: What were main consequences of the Crimean War to Russia?

ARTICLES ON THE WAR:
"The Crimean War" (by Andrew Lambert)
"Crimea: the Last Crusade" (An interview with Orlando Figes)
"The Crimean War - not the last crusade" (by Dominic Lieven)

Backround: The Russian Empire in the mid-nineteenth century

Epic History Documentaries: Russia

Russia Part 4

Russia Part 3

Russia Part 2

Russia Part 1

Society, tsardom and the Crimean War