Exploring Russia's Past: Narrative, Sources, Images Volume 2: Since 1856

This two-volume source-based text views Russia in all its dimensions—as a nation, a civilization, and an empire. The text examines all aspects of Russian society—politics, law, foreign affairs, social status, gender relations, religion, culture, and economy; and examines Russia from the vantage point of world history—continually situating Russia in the context of trends and developments across the Eurasian continent. Written in a narrative history, this text also features an integrated and coherent collection of primary text and visual documents.

• Unique integration of narrative history with primary text documents and visual images.

  • Illuminates all aspects of Russian society and civilization, and enables students to follow themes through text and visual documents over the entire course of Russian history.

• Chapter-opening survey of developments in Eurasia—Situates Russia in the context of world history, and presents a review of key information regarding Russia's neighbors.

  • Supplies students with the background and knowledge necessary to intelligently analyze the primary documents.

• Primary documents—Follow each narrative. Multiple documents provide insight into political, legal, cultural, social, and economic aspects of Russian history, including women and peoples of the empire. Images are chosen not for decoration but to illustrate key themes in Russian history.

  • Focused questions accompanying each reading and image encourage students to think critically and to follow particular themes (such as developments in law, gender relations, economics, religion, and intellectual life).

• Consistent chapter format.

  • Introduces the key theme or an important development that sets the stage for the chapter.

  • Offers a summary of world developments and an overview of each of the major civilizations of Eurasia and of the countries on Russia's borders.

  • Assembles sections on government and foreign affairs, church and culture, the role and status of women, as well as society and economy.

  • Concludes with a consideration of the non-Russian peoples of the empire or Soviet Union, and summarizes key developments or anticipates the next period in Russian history.

• Breadth of coverage—Concisely addresses all major aspects of Russian society and civilization. Provides essential information in order to thoroughly ground students in key factual knowledge, but is brief enough to allow instructors the flexibility to add specialized texts to the syllabus.

• A map in each chapter.

  • Gives the location of every geographical item mentioned in the chapter as well as data illustrating a significant aspect of Russian history.