HIS 241.01: The Origins of Modern Russia
Autumn 2004
D.
H. Kaiser
Mears 216, 269-3088
http://web.grinnell.edu/individuals/kaiser
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Focusing upon the medieval
origins of early East Slavic societies and the formation of the Muscovite
state and Russian Empire, this course emphasizes the political, economic,
and social components of pre-revolutionary Russia from the tenth through the
nineteenth centuries. The multiple
forms of state-building, the dynamics of ethnicity and empire-building, and
the role of gender, class and ideology receive special attention.
In addition to providing factual background on Russia's past, this
course emphasizes historical interpretations and their relationship to original
primary sources. Most class sessions , therefore, will
be devoted to discussions based upon the readings assigned for that day, so
that students should arrive in class already having read and considered
the assignments for that day.
FOREIGN LANGUAGE OPTION: Students who have studied or who are now
studying Russian may wish to pursue the foreign-language option for this course;
the instructor encourages the exercise of Russian, and asks only that
students interested in this possibility consult with him early in the semester
to discuss alternatives available.
REQUIRED TEXTS AVAILABLE
FOR PURCHASE IN COLLEGE BOOKSTORE:
Kaiser, Daniel H., and
Gary Marker, eds. Reinterpreting
Russian History: Readings 860-1860s. NY, 1994.
Kappeler, Andreas. The Russian Empire: A Multiethnic History. Trans. Alfred Clayton. London, 2001.
Moon, David. Abolition of Serfdom in Russia. London, 2001.
Moss, Walter G. A History of Russia, vol. 1: To 1917. London, 2003.
Pavlov, Andrei, and Maureen
Perrie. Ivan the Terrible. London, 2003.
Poe, Marshall. The Russian Moment in World History. Princeton, 2003.
Whittaker, Cynthia Hyla,
ed. Russia Engages the World,
1453-1825. Cambridge, MA, 2003.
RECOMMENDED TEXT AVAILABLE
FOR PURCHASE IN BOOKSTORE:
Neuberger, Joan.
Ivan the Terrible. Kinofiles Film Companion 9. London, 2003.
COURSE READING AVAILABLE
AT RESERVE DESK OF BURLING LIBRARY (and indicated by an asterisk
on the Course Schedule):
Dmytryshyn, Basil. Medieval Russia: A Sourcebook 900-1700. NY, 1967.
Dmytryshyn, Basil. Medieval Russia: A Sourcebook 900-1700. 2d ed. NY, 1973.
Kaiser, Daniel H., and
Gary Marker, eds. Reinterpreting
Russian History: Readings 860-1860s. NY, 1994.
Moss, Walter G. A History of Russia, vol. 1: To 1917. NY, 1997.
Neuberger, Joan. Ivan the Terrible. London, 2003.
Poe, Marshall T. The Russian Moment in World History. Princeton, 2003.
Whittaker, Cynthia Hyla.
Russia Engages the World, 1453-1825. Cambridge, MA, 2003.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
AND GRADING:
- Daily Preparation:
As a means of encouraging daily preparation,
each student will be expected to submit over the course of the semester
five one-page analyses, each examining one original primary source
selected from those assigned for a particular class session. The analysis should identify who authored
the source, when it was authored, and with what motives. In addition, the student should determine
what the source can fairly tell us about Russian history. The five source essays will represent
15% of the total grade for the course; three of the five must be submitted
before the midterm examination, and every essay must be submitted
before the class when that source is discussed.
- Papers: Two. Students will prepare two short papers
(approximately 5-6 pp.). Detailed
assignment will be distributed in class, but the first paper will consider
Ivan the Terrible, and the second will ask students to research the role
that one non-Russian ethnicity played in the Russian Empire. Each paper will count for 25% of the
final course grade.
- Examinations: Two. A mid-term (20% of
course grade) will be given in class, Thursday, October 14, and a final
examination as announced (25% of course grade).
As simple addition will
prove, these requirements make it possible to collect 110% of the total course
grade, which should provide a slight boost to everyone's grade.
COURSE SCHEDULE
AND ASSIGNMENTS
8/26 MODERN RUSSIA AND
ITS ORIGINS: WHAT ARE THE ISSUES?
Poe, Russian Moment (all)
Kappeler, Russian Empire, 1-8, 283-323
Moss, A History of Russia, 1-11 (*1997)/ 1-11
(2003)
8/31 THE MULTI-ETHNIC PEOPLING
OF RUS'
Reinterpreting Russian
History, 3-20
Kappeler, Russian Empire, 14-20
9/2 THE STRUCTURE
OF THE STATE IN KIEVAN RUS'
Reinterpreting Russian
History, 21-37. Access an English translation of the Expanded
Pravda on-line at http://web.grinnell.edu/individuals/kaiser/EXRP.HTML, and compare with the Short Pravda
to see how state administration changed within a century or so.
Moss, A History of Russia, 13-26/13-32
9/7 ECONOMY
AND SOCIETY IN KIEVAN RUS'
Reinterpreting Russian History, 38-59
Moss, A History of Russia, 35-42/35-41
9/9 CULTURE
AND EVERYDAY LIFE IN KIEVAN RUS'
Reinterpreting Russian History, 60-78
The Statute of St. Vladimir
(http://web.grinnell.edu/individuals/kaiser/Vlad.html)
purports to be a document by which St. Vladimir institutionalized a financial
and legal relationship with the church in Rus'.
Consider what this document tells us about the social and moral world
of Kievan Rus'.
Moss, A History of Russia, 42-54/42-52
9/14 STATE-BUILDING IN POST-KIEVAN
RUS':
DISINTEGRATION OF KIEVAN RUS' AND THE RISE OF MOSCOW
Reinterpreting Russian History, 79-99, 103-104
Moss, A History of Russia, 56-67/52-64
9/16 ECONOMY AND SOCIETY
IN POST-KIEVAN RUS'; EVALUATING THE TATAR YOKE
Reinterpreting Russian History, 99-102, 104-26
Moss, A History of Russia, 69-81/65-77
9/21 CULTURE AND EVERYDAY
LIFE IN APPANAGE RUS'
Reinterpreting Russian History, 127-45
Moss, A History of Russia, 106-129/101-123
9/23 RISE OF MOSCOW AND
THE CENTRALIZED RUSSIAN STATE
Sudebnik (Law Code) of 1497:
http://www.departments.bucknell.edu/russian/const/sudebnik.html
Moss, A History of Russia, 83-104/79-99
9/28 APPRAISING THE AUTOCRATIC
TSAR: IVAN IV
Pavlov and Perrie, Ivan the Terrible 1-106
Handouts
Reinterpreting Russian History 151-54
*Dmytryshyn, Medieval Russia [1967], 177-92
OR
*Dmytryshyn, Medieval Russia [1974], 209-24
RECOMMENDED: *Neuberger, Ivan 1-48
9/30 APPRAISING THE AUTOCRATIC
TSAR: IVAN IV
Pavlov and Perrie, Ivan the Terrible, 107-207
Reinterpreting Russian History, 154-63
*Dmytryshyn, Medieval Russia [1967], 199-207
OR
*Dmytryshyn, Medieval Russia [1974], 231-39
AND
Moss, A History of Russia, 133-49/127-43
10/5 CRISIS, CIVIL WAR,
AND EQUILIBRIUM REGAINED
Reinterpreting Russian History, 164-76, 180-83
Moss, A History of Russia, 151-81/146-78
10/7 MUSCOVITE SOCIETY:
FAMILY, GENDER, KIN AND CLASS
Reinterpreting Russian History, 176-80, 183-92, 213-22
Moss, A History of
Russia,
187-204/184-202
10/12 RUSSIA IN WESTERN EYES: CIVIL TYRANNY? EASTERN DESPOTISM?
Russia Engages, 2-23
Kappeler, Russian Empire, 21-59
10/14 MID-TERM EXAMINATION
***********************A
U T U M N R
E C E S S *****************************
10/26 STATE-BUILDING IN IMPERIAL RUSSIA:
THE PETRINE SERVICE STATE
Reinterpreting Russian History, 223-55
Moss, A History of Russia, 223-88/223-88
10/28 EMPIRE-BUILDING IN THE EIGHTEENTH
CENTURY
Russia Engages, 24-71
Kappeler, Russian Empire, 60-113
11/2 GENDER AND FAMILY
IN IMPERIAL RUSSIA
Reinterpreting Russian History, 351-69, 376-79
Moss, A History of Russia, pp. 303-306, 387-91/305-308,
391-95
11/4 IMPERIAL RUSSIAN NOBLE
SOCIETY
Reinterpreting Russian History, 370-85
Moss, A History of
Russia,
296-298, 379-82/297-99, 391-95
11/9 WAR AND PEACE—WESTERNIZATION
& REBELLION
Russia Engages, 118-37
Moss, A History of Russia, 328-40, 345-51, 353-58,
361-64/
331-44, 348-53, 356-61, 364-68
11/11 THE ECONOMY OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE
Reinterpreting Russian
History, 268-89
Moss, A History of Russia, 290-96/291-99
11/16 PEASANT LIFE IN THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE
Reinterpreting Russian
History, 290-311
Moon, Abolition, 9-55
Moss, A History of Russia, 298-300, 383-87/299-301,
386-91
11/18 URBAN LIFE IN THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE
Reinterpreting Russian History, 312-33
Moss, A History of Russia, 372-78/376-82
11/23 THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE: A MULTI-ETHNIC SOCIETY
Russia Engages, 90-116
Kappeler, Russian Empire, 114-67
Moss, A History of Russia, 182-85, 279-87 (review),
336-45, 358-61, 364-67/
178-80, 280-85 (review), 338-47, 368-70
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H A N K S G I V I N G R
E C E S S**********************
11/30 RUSSIA CONQUERS THE CAUCASUS AND
CENTRAL ASIA
Kappeler, Russian Empire,
168-212
Russia Engages, 138-61
Moss, A History of
Russia,
458-64/464-71
12/2 RELIGIONS AND SOCIETY
IN THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE
Reinterpreting Russian History, 334-50
Moss, A History of
Russia,
311-26/313-28
12/7 REFORMING STATE AND
SOCIETY
Reinterpreting Russian History, 257-67, 428-45
Moon, Abolition, 56-109
Moss, A History of Russia, 367-70, 417-26/371-74,
422-31
12/9 EMPIRE UNRAVELLING:
MODERNITY, NATIONALISM, REVOLUTION
Kappeler, Russian Empire, 213-82
Moon, Abolition, 110-129