Russia's age of serfdom 1649-1861 /

Russia's Age of Serfdom 1649-1861 offers a broad interpretive history of the Russian Empire from the time of serfdom's codification until its abolition following the Crimean War. Considers the institution of serfdom, official social categories, and Russia's development as a country of peasants ruled by nobles, military commanders, and civil servants Illuminates the reality of absolute monarchy in Russia, with special emphasis on the mobilization of human and material resources, the search for regular government, and the persistence of personal-moral forms of authority Traces the emergence of modern Russian culture out of and alongside Orthodox religious cultureIncludes bibliographical references (p. [266]-279) and index.Russian absolute monarchy 1649-1725 -- Face to face in Russian society -- Building a service state -- Muscovite tradition and petrine cultural revolution -- The building of society 1725-1796 -- From the household to society -- From service state to government by moral means -- Russian enlightenment culture : a moral voice for society -- Government and people in old regime Russia 1796-1861 -- The emergence of independent society -- The limits to bureaucratic government -- To speak for the Russian people -- Bibliography -- Index.Russia's Age of Serfdom 1649-1861 offers a broad interpretive history of the Russian Empire from the time of serfdom's codification until its abolition following the Crimean War. Considers the institution of serfdom, official social categories, and Russia's development as a country of peasants ruled by nobles, military commanders, and civil servants Illuminates the reality of absolute monarchy in Russia, with special emphasis on the mobilization of human and material resources, the search for regular government, and the persistence of personal-moral forms of authority Traces the emergence of modern Russian culture out of and alongside Orthodox religious cultur