HIST 245 Midterm: HIST 245 Before Midterm
12 Dec 2013
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Hist 245 medieval, muscovite, and imperial russia. Imperial russia 1689-1917: beginning with peter the great and ending with the last tsar, peter ii. Very cold major portions are frozen most of the year. 97% of the population is agricultural (peasants) Planting crops is a difficult activity w cold weather: short season, only one chance per year, only small portion is fertile. Subsistence agriculture barely enough to eat: cycles of famines. Farm animals lived in the home: would freeze otherwise, livestock could not graze in winter. Agriculture seen as key to modern prosperity. Lack of good agriculture did not allow russia to modernize. Very flat expansion is relatively easy. Huge territory, but sparsely populated: 15 million people at beginning of time period. 500,000 in cities, rest in countryside: difficult to keep control of vast area. Winter is easiest time to travel (use sleds: roads impassable in spring and fall.
