Russian America at the Turn of the 18th and the 19th Centuries

The presented work focuses on the history of Russian America, the only Russian overseas colony located in the territory of today's American state of Alaska, specifically it is concerned with the middle period of its existence, i.e. between the years 1784 and 1818. After a brief introduction of the beginnings of Russian presence in the North Pacific, the thesis deals with its main topics. The first one is the organization of voyages to the islands and the mainland of Russian America. Commercial hunting companies are introduced in this context as a subject representing eastern Russian expansion and the characteristics of hunting expeditions are analysed in detail. The second, key part of the thesis is the analysis of the Russian colonization of Alaska in terms of the relations between Russians and the indigenous people, the creation of base structures and the competitive struggles of Russian traders. Comparison with colonization practices of other colonizing states in this area - Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America - is also included. This chapter is followed by the analysis of the administration of Russian America and its development since the times of hunting-and-trading companies, to the activities of the Russian-American company, a semi-governmental organization with the..