Tsarist Russia by 1905 (Cambridge (CIE) O Level History): Revision Note

What was Russian Society Like in 1905? - Summary

Russia in 1905 was a very unique country with a confusing identity. The West feared Russia’s size, ambition and isolationism for many centuries. Its borders spanning both Asia and Europe meant it did not fit into either Asian or European culture. As a result, the way that Russians viewed Europe was very different.

Some Russians called themselves Slavophiles. This meant that they saw Russia as a special country that needed protection. They distrusted Europe, believing that it wanted to change Russia’s national identity. An example of Russia’s unique identity was how Russia measured time. In 1905, Russia continued to use the Julian Calendar. Many other countries had adopted the Gregorian calendar almost 300 years earlier. The Julian Calendar was 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar. Keeping this way of measuring time showed Russia’s desire to be different and preserve its traditions.

Other Russians were known as Westernisers. They looked to Europe for inspiration and wanted to apply this to Russia. A key Westerniser was a king, or ‘tsar’, called Peter the Great. In 1703, Peter built the new capital city of St Petersburg in a Parisian style. This differed from the old capital city of Moscow with its Slavic style. 

Russia had three ‘pillars’ that society stood upon - the tsar, the Orthodox Church and the Army. Russia relied on these three institutions to survive. By 1905, the people started to question and test these pillars.

What is a Tsar?

• Tsar is the Russian word for ‘King’

  • A queen was called a tsarina

• By 1905, a tsar or tsarina had ruled Russia for nearly 300 years

  • The Romanov dynasty established control over Russia in 1613

• Tsars had many specific characteristics

Industrialisation

• For many countries, an industrial revolution occurred in the 18th century

  • By 1905, Britain had railways, motorised tractors and iron warships

  • Germany was the world’s leading steel producer, exceeding Britain by 1893

• Russia had not experienced an industrial revolution

  • Russia’s limited industry developed in the west of the empire

  • Russian workers did not have the skills to keep up with production in Western Europe

    • Russia developed pig iron whereas Britain and Germany produced alloys like steel

  • Much of Russia did not have roads

    • Russia had begun to develop railways, having over 30,000 miles of railway tracks

The Geography of the Russian Empire

• The Russian Empire was large

  • It was nearly 5,000 kilometres wide

  • It spanned Europe and Asia

  • Standards of living varied significantly across the empire

 Social Backwardness

• Historians describe Russia in 1905 as a backward country

  • Most Russians lived in villages or mirs

    • By 1905, 87% of Russia’s population lived in the countryside

    • The Russian Empire had very few towns and cities

• The majority of people in Russia were peasant farmers

  • Peasant farmers worked in agriculture using traditional tools and methods

  • They had previously been serfs but Tsar Alexander II freed them through the Emancipation Edict in 1861

    • Despite this, many peasants still lacked freedom and rights by 1905

• There were issues with land allocation

  • Land passed down through generations by inheritance

  • By 1905, family plots of land were too small or spread around the mir

    • Peasants could not use modern techniques or equipment to farm efficiently

    • If no one inherited the land, it remained vacant

  • More than 60% of Russia’s population were illiterate

    • In comparison, only 3% of Britain’s population could not read

• The tsar had a limited impact on the government of mirs

  • Due to the size of Russia, citizens learnt of key policies from their local Russian Orthodox Church

    • The tsar made laws, which his officials distributed across the empire

    • Priests would read the law out to their congregation

    • Priests taught that the tsar was God’s representative on Earth and that everyone should obey him

    • As a result, the Church was essential for law enforcement