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Recommended because this is a narrative history of Russia in the age of Tsar Alexander II, Tolstoy, and Dostoevsky (with links to hundreds of images and other materials). Worthwhile because Alexander II, who ruled Russia from 1855 to 1881, was an extremely important ruler in that he brought about the so-called "Great Reforms" designed to help Russia modernize. This is a very good website produced by a noted Russian historian. |
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Recommended because this is a good introduction to the reign of Tsar Alexander I (ruled 1801-25). Be aware of the fact that his reign was somewhat puzzling in that he appeared to favor constitutionalism early in his rule, but after the final defeat of Napoleon he became more conservative, even reactionary. It was his death that precipitated the a failed attempt at constitutionalism, the Decembrist revolt. This article is from Encyclopedia Britannica and is part of a series about the Russian monarchs. |
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Recommended because this website provides a brief but thoughtful biography the Russian composer who was the father of Modernism in classical music and who created "The Rite of Spring" in 1913. Be aware of the fact that this biography is part of Time magazine's "100 Most Important People of the Twentieth Century" website. |
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Recommended because this article acquaints the reader with the reign of Tsar Nicholas I (ruled 1825-1855), which was characterized by repression and censorship. Though Nicholas lavished the Russian military with funding and personal support, Russia's defeat in the Crimean War (1854-1856) at the end of his reign proved that his reactionary policies were bankrupt and set the stage for the reforms to come under Alexander II, Nicholas I's son and successor. |
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Recommended because this is terrific source to learn about the course of events that led to Russian Revolution of 1917. |
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Recommended because of its cogent explanation of how Russia's industrialization in the late Nineteenth century was achieved at the cost of the peasantry. It is interesting how a parallel could be drawn with Stalin's industrialization scheme fifty years later. Start by reading the "In Brief" section to the right of the screen--it gives a good overview of the article. Be aware of the fact that this material is part of the History House website. |
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Recommended because it is probably the single best source of information on the history and life of the Russian royal family (the Romanovs) from 1800 to the overthrow of the Russian monarchy in 1917. The Alexander Palace was one of many residences of the Russian royal family. This website is extensive, very well organized, and has an elegant beauty to accompany its informative nature. Start by scrolling down to the Palace Tour section of the site where you can take a virtual stroll through the imperial residence of Tsar Nicholas II and his family. Be aware of the fact that this website has many other sections in addition to the virtual tour of the Alexander Palace. |
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Recommended because of its accurate portrayal of how Rasputin was murdered (with great difficulty) in late 1916, a subject that students often find very interesting. Not true, however, are claims that Rasputin was the Empress Alexandra's lover. The Empress trusted Rasputin and was very close to him precisely because he seemed to be the only person who could stop her hemophiliac son's occasional bleeding. Because of his dishonorable and disgusting conduct, Rasputin's association with the royal family helped discredit the Tsar Nicholas II and his wife in the eyes of the public and ultimately led to the overthrow of the monarchy in 1917. Be aware of the fact that this article is part of the larger History House website. |
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Recommended because although this site was designed for war gamers not educators, it is a good introduction to Russia's noble but doomed role in the First World War. Be aware of the fact that historical narrative is embellished with very good campaign maps of the Eastern Front. A few photographs of Russian soldiers and their Austrian and German enemies follow the text. |
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Recommended because this is a stunning collection of photographs taken in Russia a century ago that bring pre-revolutionary Russia back to life. Materials include dozens of photographs of Russian architecture, transportation, people at work, and ethnic groups. The pictures were taken all over the Russian Empire, so they show well how very diverse Russia was (and is). Start by clicking on one of the four main sections of photographs: Architecture, Ethnic Diversity, Transportation, or People at Work. Be aware of the fact that the photos are all the more remarkable and realistic because they have been "colorized" making them look as if they had been taken yesterday. Also, note that there is a Russian language version of this site. Produced by the Library of Congress. |
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Recommended because despite its irreverent approach to the subject, this site gives the reader a graphic and accurate account of Russia's catastrophic military failure in its war with Japan, especially its tragic-comic dispatch of its Baltic fleet halfway around the world to fight the Japanese fleet in its own waters. Be aware of the fact that the war was significant not only for the humiliation it caused Russia and the fact that it led to the ultimately failed Revolution of 1905, the war was also the first example in modern history where a European power was defeated by a non-European country. A production of History House. |
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Recommended because this exhibit features high quality photographs of precious Russian national treasures that earlier belonged to the Romanovs, the Russian ruling family. In the process of showing the viewer icons, crowns, jewels, armor, and other items belonging to Russia's rulers, one gains a great deal of insight into Russian history and culture. Start by going to the beginning of the Museum Tour. Be aware of the fact that in the Playground of the Czars section the viewer is introduced to the Russian language, learns fun facts about Russian rulers (for example, that Peter the Great was nearly seven feet tall), as well as interesting information about the Russian church and Russian culture. A wonderful website. |
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Recommended because this website deals with the inability of urban revolutionaries to mobilize peasants to support their plans to overthrow the autocratic Russian government. Instead of finding willing allies in the villages, the revolutionaries were met with indifference, even hostility. Some measure of the terrible, dark nature of peasant life is given in this brief account. Produced by History House. Start by reading the "In Brief" section at the right side of the screen for an overview of the article. Be aware of the fact that despite its irreverent nature, this article is well written and researched. |
A History of Russia
Author:
Nicholas V. Riasanovsky (6th ed., 1999)
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Recommended because Recommended as the standard Russian history text by the distinguished historian from the University of California at Berkeley. It covers well the Imperial period. Availability: may be purchased from Amazon.com for $59.95. |
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Alexander II and the Modernization of Russia
Author:
W. E. Mosse (1958)
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Recommended because Recommended as a brief, but highly readable analysis of Tsar Alexander II (ruled 1855-81) and his Great Reforms of Russia. Availability: apparently out of print, but used books can still be obtained from Amazon.com for varying prices. |
Imperial Russia: A Source Book, 1700-1917
Author:
Basil Dmytryshyn, Editor (3rd ed., 1990)
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Recommended because Recommended as an excellent collection of historical sources to complement narrative historical accounts. Includes government decrees, treaties, letters, memoirs, extracts from literature, etc. Availability: apparently out of print, but used books can still be obtained from Amazon.com for varying prices. |
Passage Through Armageddon: The Russians in War and Revolution, 1914-18
Author:
W. Bruce Lincoln (1986)
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Recommended because Recommended as a very well-written account of Russia in the First World War by a professional Russian historian whose books have achieved popularity general audiences. Availability: out of print, but used copies may be obtained from Amazon.com. |
Road to Revolution: A Century of Russian Radicalism
Author:
Avrahm Yarmolinsky (1956)
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Recommended because Recommended as a classic narrative of the development of Russian revolutionary movements, starting in the late 18th century and culminating with the failure of the non-Marxists in the late 19th century. As such it does not deal with the Bolsheviks or the Russian revolutionary movement after 1890. Availability: may be purchased from Amazon.com for $18.95. |
The First Russian Revolution, 1825
Author:
Anatole G. Mazour (1937)
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Recommended because Recommended as an account of the failed, but nevertheless very important Decembrist Uprising in 1825. Availability: apparently out of print, but used books can still be obtained from Amazon.com for varying prices. |
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The Last Tsar: The Life and Death of Nicholas II
Author:
Edvard Radzinsky (1992)
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Recommended because Recommended as a sympathetic Russian perspective on Nicholas II written by a Russian playwright who had access to valuable unpublished private and archival documents. Availability: may be purchased from Amazon.com for $11.87. |
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Recommended because the impact of Marx on the 20th century has been all-pervasive and worldwide, costing tens of millions of lives where Communism was imposed, resulting in brutal wars to contain or expand it, and vastly improving the lives of workers where fear of Communism resulted in social reform. This program looks at the man, at the roots of his philosophy, at the causes and explanations of his philosophical development, and at its most direct outcome: the failed Soviet Union (52 minutes). Available by free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic & East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or write to: Keisel.1@osu.edu), apparently out of print. |
Rasputin: The Mad Monk (1997)
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Recommended because this is the A&E channel biography of Grigory Rasputin, notorious confidant to the Empress Alexandra in the last years of the Romanov dynasty leading up to the Revolution of 1917. The official description of this program is "He was called a lustful mad monk who preached the word of God but practiced every form of evil. Accused of hypnotizing the tsar and seducing the tsarina, the truth about Rasputin is even stranger and more moving that the legend of the Satanic monk" (55 minutes). Available by free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic & East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or write to: Keisel.1@osu.edu) apparently out of print. |
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Recommended because this is a seven-part history of the Soviet Union which combines documentary film footage and interviews with participants in important historical events. Introduced by Robert Conquest with Geoffrey Hosking as historical consultant. Each film is about 54 minutes long. Produced in the United Kingdom. Available by free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic & East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or write to: Keisel.1@osu.edu), apparently out of print. |
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Recommended because this is a History Channel documentary, part of the "In Search of History" series. For three centuries, the Romanov family ruled imperial Russia. This film explores the dynasty's long life and examines the societal changes that sealed the fate of Tsar Nicholas, his wife Alexandra, and their children (55 minutes). Available by free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic & East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or write to: Keisel.1@osu.edu), but apparently out of print. |
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Recommended because this is a biography of the Russian tsar from the History Channel series, "The History Makers." The intelligent, but vain, Alexander I became emperor of Russia after his father's murder in 1801. During the Napoleonic wars, Russian endured the invasion of 1812, then played a major role in defeating the French, securing Alexander's place in history (55 minutes). Available by free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic & East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or write to: Keisel.1@osu.edu; apparently out of print. |
Last updated: 10 February 2007
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