PopulationPopulation Cossacks, fierce warrior raceCossacks, fierce warrior race Byelorussians, ‘White Byelorussians, ‘White
Russians’Russians’ Great Russians, Slav & Great Russians, Slav &
Viking mixViking mix Georgians, fiercely Georgians, fiercely
independentindependentMuscovites
Jews, central Asia Evenki, Siberia
Gurians, Caucasus
GeographyGeography
Tundra, nearly always frozenTundra, nearly always frozen Taiga, impenetrable forestsTaiga, impenetrable forests Russian steppes, grasslandsRussian steppes, grasslands Desert Desert
CommunicationsCommunications Hard-paced mud roadsHard-paced mud roads Wooden platforms in cities due to mudWooden platforms in cities due to mud Longer journeys by river, e.g. passenger steamers on Longer journeys by river, e.g. passenger steamers on
River VolgaRiver Volga Expansion of railways, e.g. Trans-Siberian Railway, 1904Expansion of railways, e.g. Trans-Siberian Railway, 1904 Moscow to Vladivostok took 1 week!Moscow to Vladivostok took 1 week!
Peasant women pulling
boats on the River
Volga
GovernmentGovernment 1894, Tsar Nicholas 1894, Tsar Nicholas
II, Romanov II, Romanov dynastydynasty AutocratAutocrat Divine right to ruleDivine right to rule Governed through a Governed through a
council of ministerscouncil of ministers 1000s of civil servants1000s of civil servants No parliamentNo parliament Newpapers & books Newpapers & books
censoredcensored OkhranaOkhrana Order enforced byOrder enforced by
CossacksCossacksTsar Nicholas II & Tsarina
Alexandra
AgricultureAgriculture
90% population 90% population peasantspeasants
Medieval strip Medieval strip farmingfarming
InefficientInefficient Little investmentLittle investment Average life Average life
expectancy of expectancy of peasant farmer, 40 peasant farmer, 40 yearsyears
Interior of Russian peasant’s cottage
EconomyEconomy
Beginnings of Beginnings of industrialisationindustrialisation
Coal mining, iron, Coal mining, iron, steel & textilessteel & textiles
Economic migrants Economic migrants – peasants to cities– peasants to cities
Poor housing & Poor housing & living standardsliving standards
No trade unionsNo trade unionsCanteen in Moscow
Top Related