The Russian Empire 1450-1801 (Oxford History of Early Modern Europe)

Synopsis

Modern Russian Identity And Historical Experience Has Been Largely Shaped By Russia's Imperial Past: An Empire That Was Founded In The Early Modern Era And Endures In Large Part Today. The Russian Empire 1450-1801 Surveys How The Areas That Made Up The Empire Were Conquered And How They Were Governed. It Considers The Russian Empire A 'eurasian Empire', Characterized By A 'politics Of Difference': The Rulers And Their Elites At The Center Defined The State's Needs Minimally - With Control Over Defense, Criminal Law, Taxation, And Mobilization Of Resources - And Otherwise Tolerated Local Religions, Languages, Cultures, Elites, And Institutions. The Center Related To Communities And Religions Vertically, According Each A Modicum Of Rights And Autonomies, But Didn't Allow Horizontal Connections Across Nobilities, Townsmen, Or Other Groups Potentially With Common Interests To Coalesce. Thus, The Russian Empire Was Multi-ethnic And Multi-religious; Nancy Kollmann Gives Detailed Attention To The Major Ethnic And Religious Groups, And Surveys The Government's Strategies Of Governance - Centralized Bureaucracy, Military Reform, And A Changed Judicial System.