People and Russification
Who were the Russians:
Empire contained 130 million people
Lots of these people lived in European Russia, west of the Ural
Mountains – less than half of the population were Russian
55.6 million Russians, 22.4 million Ukrainians and 5.8 million white
Russians lived in the European part of Russia.
Russia started empire in “White Russia”, which was a cultural
grouping.
Russification:
Some national groups resented Russian control
The policy of “Russification” made non-Russians speak Russian,
wear Russian clothing, and follow Russian customs.
Some national groups saw it as an attack of their way of life.
It is very similar to “assimilation”- the absorption and integration of
people, ideas, or culture into a wider society or culture.
14 different groups of people were living in Russia, making it more
difficult to govern.
Brought Russian officials to govern non-Russian areas
Russians got more important jobs in non-Russian areas
The Russian language had to be used in schools, law courts and
local government.
Geography:
Vast spanning from Europe-Asia
Russia was difficult to invade
o Weather, excuse? (South-desert, North-cold middle
mountains)
It takes more than a week to go from Moscow to Vladivostok.
USA could fit into Russia 2x, Britain could fit into Russia 100x.
They had one railway line that went through the whole of Russia,
through Siberia (hence why it was named the Trans-Siberian
Railway), for trading.
Same amount of railway as Britain
Empire held 300 million people; most people lived in the Northwest.
Couldn’t organise well
In winter some lakes and rivers froze, sledge travel made possible,
Less than half of population perceived themselves as Russian.
Different time zones made communications more difficult.
Who were the Russians:
Empire contained 130 million people
Lots of these people lived in European Russia, west of the Ural
Mountains – less than half of the population were Russian
55.6 million Russians, 22.4 million Ukrainians and 5.8 million white
Russians lived in the European part of Russia.
Russia started empire in “White Russia”, which was a cultural
grouping.
Russification:
Some national groups resented Russian control
The policy of “Russification” made non-Russians speak Russian,
wear Russian clothing, and follow Russian customs.
Some national groups saw it as an attack of their way of life.
It is very similar to “assimilation”- the absorption and integration of
people, ideas, or culture into a wider society or culture.
14 different groups of people were living in Russia, making it more
difficult to govern.
Brought Russian officials to govern non-Russian areas
Russians got more important jobs in non-Russian areas
The Russian language had to be used in schools, law courts and
local government.
Geography:
Vast spanning from Europe-Asia
Russia was difficult to invade
o Weather, excuse? (South-desert, North-cold middle
mountains)
It takes more than a week to go from Moscow to Vladivostok.
USA could fit into Russia 2x, Britain could fit into Russia 100x.
They had one railway line that went through the whole of Russia,
through Siberia (hence why it was named the Trans-Siberian
Railway), for trading.
Same amount of railway as Britain
Empire held 300 million people; most people lived in the Northwest.
Couldn’t organise well
In winter some lakes and rivers froze, sledge travel made possible,
Less than half of population perceived themselves as Russian.
Different time zones made communications more difficult.
