Russia: Background information Flashcards
What was the size of Russia?
- 1/6 of the world’s total landmass.
- 6000km from the west to the Pacific Ocean.
- 3000km from the Baltic Sea in the North to the Black sea in the South.
What was the problem with Russia’s land?
It’s made up of many biomes and was large in size (Tundra & Deserts)
Where were the most fertile regions in Russia?
The Black Earth region, open plains and grassland.
Where were the problems with Russia’s climate?
- Unpredictable rainfall patterns.
- Extreme temperatures due to vast size (Can be -30 degrees).
Why were cities poorly connected?
- Few paved roads.
- Most roads were hard-packed earth that are impassable in winter.
- Railways undeveloped in the 1950s.
How many different nationalities were in Russia?
- 100 after the expansion in the 1860s & 1870s.
Russia had an empire that had taken land from different national groups.
Why could diversity of culture cause problems?
Cannot communicate effectively as they had different languages, culture, religion and lifestyle.
How much of the population were made up by nobility?
1%
Owned land given to them by the Tsar.
What would the nobility give the Tsar?
- Officers and public officials.
- Based on rewards for service.
Why were there variations within the nobility?
- Wealth.
- Some worked away from their estates or worked in the government.
- Some were liberal thinking and wanted reform.
Why were the middle class relatively unimportant at this stage?
Only a small group due to a lack of industrialisation.
What percentage of the population were peasantry?
Over 90%
What were ‘State Peasants’?
Legally free but still controlled by the state, meaning they couldn’t travel much. They also lived on land owned by the state.
What was the Mir?
An assembly of peasant households to discuss issues. It provided security and support. It also ensured land distribution.
What did the Mir do?
- Allocated land based on the size of households.
- Land was divided into strips, and the peasants were told what to grow.
- On private estates, it ensured that Serfs fulfilled their payment and labour obligations.
