2) CH1: (TRA) Social Context

Question 1

What was that serfdom?

Answer 1

Russian peasants (serfs) were men/women and children who were classified as the property of their owners.

Serfs could be brought and sold
subjected to beatings
not allowed to marry w/out permission
Liable for conscription

There were 2 main type of serfs:

1) privately owned serfs-some paid rent and some provided Labour
2) state serfs- paid rent and taxes

MOST SERFS = Worked on the land in Mirs (village communes) run by village elders who imposed strict rules.

Question 2

How was Russian society in 1855?

Answer 2

-socially divided between the privileged land owning elite and the serf majority.

around 10% or the population owned 75% or the land .

Serf majority- provided 90% of imperial finance.

Liable for direct and indirect taxes
Private serfs -paid feudal dues to their masters.

Question 3

Was there a middle class in Russian society (1855)?

Middle classes
Professionals

Answer 3

• There was no coherent middle class, in Russia in contrast to Europe where middle classes were beginning to thrive.
• There were a small number of professionals (e.g. doctors. Teachers and lawyers),

some of whom comprised an educated ‘intelligentsia’, but the educated were predominantly the sons of nobles.

• Society therefore remained essentially ‘feudal’ (based on birth, land and service)

Question 4

Did religion play a strong part in Russian society (1855)?

Answer 4

Russia was a strongly orthodox state (70% of the population were orthodox believers).

Religion and superstition were an integral part of peasant culture.

Priests had close ties with both village and state; they were expected to :
read out imperial manifestos
decrees
inform the police of any suspicious activity.