Changes

[[Catherine the Great]] continued Peter's expansionist policies and established Russia as a European power. During her reign (1762-96), power was centralized in the monarchy, and administrative reforms concentrated great wealth and privilege in the hands of the Russian nobility. Catherine was also known as an enthusiastic patron of art, literature and education and for her correspondence with [[Voltaire]] and other [[Enlightenment]] figures. Catherine also engaged in a territorial resettlement of Jews into what became known as "The Pale of Settlement," where great numbers of Jews were concentrated and later subject to vicious attacks known as pogroms.

[[Catherine the Great]] continued Peter's expansionist policies and established Russia as a European power. During her reign (1762-96), power was centralized in the monarchy, and administrative reforms concentrated great wealth and privilege in the hands of the Russian nobility. Catherine was also known as an enthusiastic patron of art, literature and education and for her correspondence with [[Voltaire]] and other [[Enlightenment]] figures. Catherine also engaged in a territorial resettlement of Jews into what became known as "The Pale of Settlement," where great numbers of Jews were concentrated and later subject to vicious attacks known as pogroms.

==19th Century==

==19th Century==

[[Alexander I]] (1801-1825) began his reign as a reformer, but after defeating [[Napoleon]]'s 1812 attempt to conquer Russia, he became much more conservative and rolled back many of his early reforms. During this era, Russia gained control of [[Georgia (Russia)|Georgia]] and much of the [[Caucasus]]. Throughout the 19th century, the Russian Government sought to suppress repeated attempts at reform and attempts at liberation by various national movements, particularly under the reign of [[Nicholas I]] (1825-1855). Its economy failed to compete with those of Western countries. Russian cities were growing without an industrial base to generate employment, although emancipation of the [[serf]]s in 1861 foreshadowed urbanization and rapid industrialization late in the century. At the same time, Russia expanded into the rest of the Caucasus, Central Asia and across [[Siberia]]. The port of [[Vladivostok]] was opened on the Pacific coast in 1860. The [[Trans-Siberian Railroad]] opened vast frontiers to development late in the century. In the 19th century, Russian culture flourished as Russian artists made significant contributions to world literature, visual arts, dance, and music. The names of Dostoyevsky, [[Tolstoy]], Gogal, Repin, and [[Tchaikovsky]] became known to the world.  

[[Alexander I]] (1801-1825) began his reign as a reformer, but after defeating [[Napoleon]]'s 1812 attempt to conquer Russia, he became much more conservative and rolled back many of his early reforms. During this era, Russia gained control of [[Georgia (Russia)|Georgia]] and much of the [[Caucasus]]. Throughout the 19th century, the Russian Government sought to suppress repeated attempts at reform and attempts at liberation by various national movements, particularly under the reign of [[Nicholas I]] (1825-1855). Its economy failed to compete with those of Western countries. Russian cities were growing without an industrial base to generate employment, although emancipation of the [[serf]]s in 1861 foreshadowed urbanization and rapid industrialization late in the century. At the same time, Russia expanded into the rest of the Caucasus, Central Asia and across [[Siberia]]. The port of [[Vladivostok]] was opened on the Pacific coast in 1860. The [[Trans-Siberian Railroad]] opened vast frontiers to development late in the century. In the 19th century, Russian culture flourished as Russian artists made significant contributions to world literature, visual arts, dance, and music. The names of Dostoyevsky, [[Tolstoy]], Gogal, Repin, and [[Tchaikovsky]] became known to the world.  

[[Alexander II]] (1855-1881), a relatively liberal tsar, emancipated the serfs. His 1881 assassination, however, prompted the reactionary rule of [[Alexander III]] (1881-1894).  

[[Alexander II]] (1855-1881), a relatively liberal tsar, emancipated the serfs. His 1881 assassination, however, prompted the reactionary rule of [[Alexander III]] (1881-1894).

 

==1900-1917==

==1900-1917==

[[File:Dagestani man and woman 1904 Russia.jpg|thumb|Dagestani man and woman, 1904.]]

[[File:Dagestani man and woman 1904 Russia.jpg|thumb|Dagestani man and woman, 1904.]]