HIST218

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HIST218

Russian History To 1881 HIST218 FA

Not Currently Offered

This course surveys Russian history from the origins of the Kievan state to the period of the Great Reforms of Alexander II, ending with his assassination in 1881. Although studying roughly a millennium of history seems daunting, the segmented character of Russian history facilitates our task. These are some important demarcations: Kievan Rus (c.900-1240), the Mongol period (c.1240-1480), the Muscovite period (including its rise under the Mongols and its emergence as a great power before Peter the Great), and the greater part of the St. Petersburg period (c.1700-1917). We focus upon the factors that shaped Russian culture (including its political culture) and gave modern Russia a history punctuated by desperate but futile upheavals from below and costly changes forced from above.

MAJOR READINGS

P. Avrich, RUSSIAN REBELS, 1600-1800
J. Billington, THE ICON AND THE AXE
R. Crummey, THE FORMATION OF MUSCOVY, 1304-1613
V. Figner, MEMOIRS OF A REVOLUTIONIST
In addition, a variety of readings on Russian religion and
culture, important rulers, such as Ivan the Dread, Peter the
Great, and Catherine the Great, and on special topics, such
as the growth of bureaucracy, economic transformation and
social change.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

A three-hour final and three 6-8 page essays.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

This is mainly a lecture course, but some time will be set aside during each session for questions and comments. A few meetings will be devoted to discussion of selected texts. Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Discussion Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UG Credit: 1.00 Gen Ed Area & Dept: SBS HIST

Prerequisites: None

Last Updated on MAR-22-1999

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