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This is a survey course on the general history of
Russia from its early beginnings with the Muscovite
state until World War I. It will begin with a general
discussion on the geographical characteristics of
Russia and the cultural peculiarities of the Russian
population. Here the emphasis will be on the
Eurasian dimension or character of the Russian lands.
Strictly historical lectures will begin with Muscovy over
1450-1598, and will continue into the ''Time of
Troubles,'' leading to the rise of the Romanov dynasty.The
next issue will be the modernizing efforts of Peter the
Great, and the political and social effects of these
Petrine reforms (1682-1740). In the course of
reviewing the policies of ''enlightened reform'' pursued by
Catherine the Great (1762-1796), Russian expansionism
against Poland and the Ottoman empire, as well as
popular reactions such as the Pugachev Rebellion
(1773-1775) will also be taken into account. Over
the period between 1801-1855, the Napoleonic wars
(1805-1815) and their impact, autocratic conservatism, and
the Crimean War (1853-1856) will be highlighted. For
the second half of the 19th century, attention fill
focus on the emancipation of the serfs (1860), other
administrative reforms and economic development
accompanying expansion in Central Asia and Far East,
and the emergence of a revolutionary opposition. The
turbulent period of 1890-1914 will be discussed in terms of
rapid industrialization, general poverty and popular
unrest, defeat in the Russo-Japanese war and
the subsequent 1905 revolution. The last weeks
of the course will be devoted to World
War I and the coming of the 1917 February and October
revolutions.
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