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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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Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459