Russia in the 19th century

Russia in the 19th century underwent territorial changes. The lands were formed, to a greater extent, at the expense of Central Asia, Transcaucasia, and the North Caucasus. Russia in the 19th century became a highly populated country. At the end of a hundred years, the number of people in the state has tripled. Political Russia in the 19th century experienced the era of reform and reaction.

In the nobility, accounting for 0.5% of the total population of the country, the tendency of development of large estates was traced, while some nobles tried to conduct the economy in a new way.

Russia in the 19th century was trading food through fairs, which were the main market form. So, well-known then were the Irbit, Novgorod, Kurinnaya fairs. A few shops almost all belonged to foreigners. Chapters conducted retail trade.

In the 19th century, the construction of railways began in the country (1837). The main means of communication and, accordingly, trade remained waterways - rivers. The defining role was played by the internal market.

The main foreign economic partner of the state at that time was England.

The industry of the country practically did not develop. This is evidenced by the structure of state exports. According to some authors, the historiography of the Soviet period formed a stereotype that the beginning of the industrial revolution in Russia occurred in the thirties of the 19th century. This provision is connected, mainly, with the Marxist dogma about the development of domestic capitalism in synchronism with the Western one. Industrial revolution was the mechanization of manual labor (a replacement for the mechanisms), the transition to factory production from the manufacturing. The main classes would be the proletariat and the bourgeoisie.

However, some historians believe that in the first quarter of the 19th century the industrial revolution could not have arisen. The most numerous class at that time was the peasantry.

Russia in the second half of the 19th century completes the formation of the domestic market. From that moment the state began to enter into world trade. Along with England, Germany became an external economic partner of Russia. Then the trade and economic relationship began to be established with Japan. In 1875 a new (after the Simod treaty) Russian-Japanese treaty was signed on the recognition of the Kuril Islands for Japan, and the islands of Sakhalin for Russia. However, tension between the two countries still remained.

Russian reforms significantly contributed to the establishment of a Western way of life in the country. Thus, the society increasingly became on a way of social and economic progress. However, due to the fact that the government tried its best to prevent the weakening of its position, the pace of development in the country was lower than it was possible.

Changes in the political and economic life of the country during the second half of the 19th century contributed to the formation of conditions for the cultural development of the population. Capitalist modernization provoked scientific and technological progress, increasing the need for highly educated cadres.

During this period the Russian Intelligentsia was formed - a new, independent social stratum. Intellectuals aspired to spirituality, serving for the good of the people.

Russia at the end of the 19th century experienced the formation of a peculiar historical and artistic period. This period was called the "silver age" in Russian culture.

At the turn of the century, the socio-economic development of the state took place against the background of the desire of the autocracy to maintain its international position. Creating a powerful military potential, the government pursued a policy that was aimed at accelerating industrialization in the country.