Things in History That Puzzle Us (greatest, 50s, empire, peasants)
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More specifically, Russia...I mean it seems we don't hear to much about Russia having an impact on world history until the cold war period...
Russia did have much effect on the world, just not United States...
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What were they up to say in 1850?
Until about 1850 Russia was arguably the most powerful nation in the world and played a key role in defeating Napoleon. It occupied on fifth of the world's land surface, from central Europe to California. In 1850s Russia fought against a coalition of other countries including UK, France, Ottoman Empire and others.
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And why were they not interested in participating in the world wide slave trade back then?
When? World wide slave trade ended in 1810 IIRC. Anyway, Russia didn't need slaves because it had millions of peasants that had almost as few rights as slaves in America.
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What drove their society and or economy back then?
Their economy was based on agriculture. Russia was a large exporter of grain. The society consisted largely of wealthy landowners, poor serfs (peasants), and the Russian Orthodox Church.
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Can the kind of government they had back then, be compared to anything we see today?
Their government was the Czar, who had unrestricted power. I don't think there are any monarchies like that left anywhere today.
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These questions are for anyone who might have knowledge in that area...
MrMarbles ... thanks for the info as i knew it was related to the Slav family but i admit i just haven't studied much about Russia like i should have.
Also i know that a band of Vikings called the Rus founded Novgorod as i believe their Rus name is the basis for the word Russian or people of the Rus ... correct or not?
This I'm not sure about. It may be one theory but I don't know what the consensus is, to be honest.
I know that Rurik, the founder of a dynasty of Russian princes that ruled Russian lands for hundreds of years was a Viking (varyag)
Russia did have much effect on the world, just not United States...
Until about 1850 Russia was arguably the most powerful nation in the world and played a key role in defeating Napoleon. It occupied on fifth of the world's land surface, from central Europe to California. In 1850s Russia fought against a coalition of other countries including UK, France, Ottoman Empire and others.
When? World wide slave trade ended in 1810 IIRC. Anyway, Russia didn't need slaves because it had millions of peasants that had almost as few rights as slaves in America.
Their economy was based on agriculture. Russia was a large exporter of grain. The society consisted largely of wealthy landowners, poor serfs (peasants), and the Russian Orthodox Church.
Their government was the Czar, who had unrestricted power. I don't think there are any monarchies like that left anywhere today.
PS: Damn, slowlane got here ahead of me. GJ slowlane.
The slave trade thing has always perplexed me over the years, now I have that question answered....and another thing you said is of interest...
And that is 'The society consisted largely of wealthy landowners, poor serfs (peasants), and the Russian Orthodox Church.
Wealthy land owners, poor serfs...hmmm....
Replace wealthy land owners with corporations, and poor serfs with working class citizens...and I can see some interesting repeating dynamics here....just a thought...
Thanks for clarifying that...you and slowlane...
In highschool, Russian history just didn't come up much...except for Alexander the great...and I guess he was like a Napolean of Russia...
Add on: I did however read a bit about the whole Karl Marx revolution, and how the Czars were brutily over thrown by Lenin or Stalin (The bald headed one with redish hair)...I think Stalin viewed the Czars the way some view 'Corporations' today...he saw the system as being very top heavy...(And it's interesting how many of the modern day corporations are indeed family owned, like Wal-mart or Ford or Heinsz Ketchup, Rochafellas, Heshey ect ect...
It's interesting how indeed history does seem to repeat itself...all systems...no matter how well their initial intentions, do seem to become top heavy...
The slave trade thing has always perplexed me over the years, now I have that question answered....and another thing you said is of interest...
And that is 'The society consisted largely of wealthy landowners, poor serfs (peasants), and the Russian Orthodox Church.
Wealthy land owners, poor serfs...hmmm....
Replace wealthy land owners with corporations, and poor serfs with working class citizens...and I can see some interesting repeating dynamics here....just a thought...
Thanks for clarifying that...you and slowlane...
In highschool, Russian history just didn't come up much...except for Alexander the great...and I guess he was like a Napolean of Russia...
Add on: I did however read a bit about the whole Karl Marx revolution, and how the Czars were brutily over thrown by Lenin or Stalin (The bald headed one with redish hair)...I think Stalin viewed the Czars the way some view 'Corporations' today...he saw the system as being very top heavy...(And it's interesting how many of the modern day corporations are indeed family owned, like Wal-mart or Ford or Heinsz Ketchup, Rochafellas, Heshey ect ect...
It's interesting how indeed history does seem to repeat itself...all systems...no matter how well their initial intentions, do seem to become top heavy...
Alexander the Great was Greek (or Macedonian to be accurate). Not Russian. Maybe you meant Alexander Nevsky?
Serfs were different from emplyees of today's corporations in that they had no freedom to move or change employer. They were bound to the land. They had very few rights. Landowners could even beat them as punishment. In Russia it was like that until 1867 when they were emancipated by the Czar.
What's interesting is about how all the numerous German tribes who migrated into western Europe starting from around the 280's A.D. lost their German tongue and became Romanized with the exception of the Frisians and Saxons who are very closely related linguistically from the western Germanic branch.
Even the Norwegian Rus lost their ancestral tongue in Russia.
Add on: I did however read a bit about the whole Karl Marx revolution, and how the Czars were brutily over thrown by Lenin or Stalin (The bald headed one with redish hair)...I think Stalin viewed the Czars the way some view 'Corporations' today...he saw the system as being very top heavy...(And it's interesting how many of the modern day corporations are indeed family owned, like Wal-mart or Ford or Heinsz Ketchup, Rochafellas, Heshey ect ect...
It's interesting how indeed history does seem to repeat itself...all systems...no matter how well their initial intentions, do seem to become top heavy...
Actually, Lenin (the bald headed guy) did not overthrow the Czar. There were two revolutions in Russia in 1917 - in February, which created a democratic Provisional Government, and another one in October, which brought Bolsheviks (headed by Lenin) to power.
Actually, Lenin (the bald headed guy) did not overthrow the Czar. There were two revolutions in Russia in 1917 - in February, which created a democratic Provisional Government, and another one in October, which brought Bolsheviks (headed by Lenin) to power.
Look how large the old Soviet Union use to be...I mean they like owned or controlled the bulk of the realistate on the planet...you could fit like 5 United States inside of The Soviet Union back then...
If indeed this is the Soviet Union Hitler tried to take on, what the heck was he thinking?
Another thing that amazes me is that all of this was started by disgruntal college students....from what I read, Lenin (the bald one) was in or dropped out of college, when he started this whole Bolsheviks movement...it would be like Tim Tebow, from the Florida state Gators, rising to power, and expanding The United states to Canada and all of South America....
Russia just kinda reminds me of the late Rodney Dangerfield, for as big and massive as they were, and what they did during the space era, satelite in space and all (poor dog, may you rest in peace), they just don't seem to get any respect...or like Dangerfield said 'No respect I tell ya, no respect'....
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Alexander the Great was Greek (or Macedonian to be accurate). Not Russian. Maybe you meant Alexander Nevsky? 
