HIS241H1 Lecture : HIS241 - November 17 - Russian Empire as Empire.docx
Document Summary
Thinking about the russian empire as an empire. There are 2 types of empire: western european (britain, france, netherlands) Overseas colonies: multi-ethnic multi-national states with monarchs ruling over agrarian societies. Russia was a hybrid of the 2 kinds of empire. Had been a great power since the mid-18th century. Has elements of the first type of empire because its successful expansion was due to the adoption of their techniques. Victims of russian expansion were normally nomadic muslims. Didn"t have economic development that was elemental to western europe. Western historians look at russia in its own category and therefore don"t compare it to any other country. Some of the pressing contemporary political dilemmas show up during this period of. Key dilemma - how to hold together polities of great empire while keeping up the policies of nationalism and democracy while bringing forth the economic policies. Slow spread of industrialisation from west to east was a problem: was uneven and slow progress.
