Trace the making of modern Russia through the chaotic 17th century to the mid-1800s, and see how early ideas still echo today.
This volume surveys the fourth period of Russian history, linking the end of the Time of Troubles to the reforms and shifts that followed. It shows how a new dynasty and centralizing power transformed governance, society, and the economy, while revealing the roots of serfdom and the state’s changing relationship with the peasantry. The discussion also tracks the impact of Western influence on culture, religion, and policy, up to the era that prepared the ground for later reforms.
- Centralization of power and the rise of a new dynasty after the Period of Troubles
- The evolution of serfdom and the legal status of bonded peasants under early modern law
- Clashes between Western influences and native traditions, including the church schism
- Reform-minded projects that shaped military, taxation, trade, education, and urban life
Ideal for readers seeking a clear, evidence-based view of how Russia’s early modern politics, society, and culture formed the world it would become.