Imperial Russia ((4 Credits))

Catalog description

This study will explore the main issues confronting Imperial Russia in its attempts to develop a unified and defensible state, a viable agricultural and industrial economy, and a stable social and cultural structure. Students should be able to describe the problems of urban vs. rural growth, the problems and strengths of the autocracy, the organization of economic life, and the adaptation of cultural values to secular goals. They should be able to compare and contrast the development of Russian institutions with those of Western Europe in the same period, i.e. from the early modern era through the First World War. Prerequisites: An introductory course in European history is strongly recommended.