Diversity in Late Imperial Russia

Russia – Culture and Society in Late Imperial Russia

In this course, Professor Sarah Badcock (University of Nottingham) discusses culture and society in Late Imperial Russia. In the first lecture we examine diversity and the demographic make-up of the Russian Empire at the turn of the twentieth century. In the second lecture we explore the development of serfdom from 1649. In the third lecture we inquire into Tsar Alexander II’s reforms of the 1860s including the Emancipation of the Serfs legislation. Fourth, we highlight urbanisation patterns in late Imperial Russia and the development of revolutionary attitudes. In the fifth lecture we break down religion in the Russian empire, exploring the dominance of Russian Orthodox Christianity on a diverse backdrop of a multi-faith empire. Finally, in the sixth lecture, we conclude with an overview of literacy and education in late Imperial and Revolutionary Russia.

Diversity in Late Imperial Russia

In this lecture we think about diversity, focussing on: (i) the varsity of the Empire, a diverse territory spanning 11 time zones and blending nation with empire; (ii) the many ethnic groups of the population, with Russians as a minority; (iii) the rural demography of the Empire, with low urbanization compared to Western Europe, reflecting limited industrialisation.