Why was Russia Why was Russia difficult to difficult to

govern?govern?

PopulationPopulation Cossacks, fierce warrior raceCossacks, fierce warrior race Byelorussians, ‘White Byelorussians, ‘White

Russians’Russians’ Great Russians, Slav & Great Russians, Slav &

Viking mixViking mix Georgians, fiercely Georgians, fiercely

independentindependentMuscovites

Jews, central Asia Evenki, Siberia

Gurians, Caucasus

GeographyGeography

Tundra, nearly always frozenTundra, nearly always frozen Taiga, impenetrable forestsTaiga, impenetrable forests Russian steppes, grasslandsRussian steppes, grasslands Desert Desert

CommunicationsCommunications Hard-paced mud roadsHard-paced mud roads Wooden platforms in cities due to mudWooden platforms in cities due to mud Longer journeys by river, e.g. passenger steamers on Longer journeys by river, e.g. passenger steamers on

River VolgaRiver Volga Expansion of railways, e.g. Trans-Siberian Railway, 1904Expansion of railways, e.g. Trans-Siberian Railway, 1904 Moscow to Vladivostok took 1 week!Moscow to Vladivostok took 1 week!

Peasant women pulling

boats on the River

Volga

GovernmentGovernment 1894, Tsar Nicholas 1894, Tsar Nicholas

II, Romanov II, Romanov dynastydynasty AutocratAutocrat Divine right to ruleDivine right to rule Governed through a Governed through a

council of ministerscouncil of ministers 1000s of civil servants1000s of civil servants No parliamentNo parliament Newpapers & books Newpapers & books

censoredcensored OkhranaOkhrana Order enforced byOrder enforced by

CossacksCossacksTsar Nicholas II & Tsarina

Alexandra

AgricultureAgriculture

90% population 90% population peasantspeasants

Medieval strip Medieval strip farmingfarming

InefficientInefficient Little investmentLittle investment Average life Average life

expectancy of expectancy of peasant farmer, 40 peasant farmer, 40 yearsyears

Interior of Russian peasant’s cottage

EconomyEconomy

Beginnings of Beginnings of industrialisationindustrialisation

Coal mining, iron, Coal mining, iron, steel & textilessteel & textiles

Economic migrants Economic migrants – peasants to cities– peasants to cities

Poor housing & Poor housing & living standardsliving standards

No trade unionsNo trade unionsCanteen in Moscow

Did the difficulties in

Russia make it easy or

difficult to govern?