Questions and Answers
What was the social structure of Russian society like?
Russian society had a classist pyramid-like structure with the Tsar at the top and the peasants at the bottom. There were educated and privileged elites dominating the majority, and ethnic groups further divided Russian society.
What percentage of the Russian population did peasants make up?
77%
What were Russian peasants like? (Select all that apply)
What were serfs?
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Compared to other European powers, what were serfs a symbol of?
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What was the relationship between the Russian intelligentsia and peasantry like?
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What does intelligentsia mean?
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What was the Russian middle class like?
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What were the consequences of the minuscule size of the Russian upper class? (Select all that apply)
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What demographics did the rest of Russian society consist of (aside from peasants, ruling class, and middle class)?
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What would cause the rigid social structures of Russia to face challenges?
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What is the problem with the small numbers of urban workers and merchants in Russia?
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How much of the population in Russia did nobility make up?
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How much of the population in Russia did priests make up?
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How much of the population in Russia did officials make up?
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How much of the population in Russia did military make up?
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How much of the population in Russia did merchants make up?
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How much of the population in Russia did urban workers make up?
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How much of the population in Russia did serfs make up?
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Study Notes
Social Structure of the Russian Empire
- Russian society operated within a classist pyramid, with the Tsar at the apex and peasants occupying the lowest tier.
- The elite class, educated and privileged, maintained dominance over the vast majority of the population, common in agrarian pre-industrial societies.
- Russian society was further divided by various ethnic groups, adding to its complexity.
Peasant Demographics and Characteristics
- Peasants represented 77% of the Russian population.
- They were mainly illiterate, deeply religious, and held superstitious beliefs; also displayed strong conservative values.
- Serfs were agricultural laborers bound to their lord's estate, with a presence in Russia as late as 1885.
Perception and Symbolism
- Serfs and peasants were emblematic of Russia’s perceived backwardness compared to other European powers.
- The intelligentsia, or educated elite, failed to connect with the peasantry, leading to resentment towards westernized values.
Middle Class and Class Size
- The Russian middle class was very small, exacerbating the divide between them and the peasantry and hindering industrialization efforts.
- A limited upper class created greater socioeconomic disparities and limited the middle class's role in national development.
Additional Social Classes
- The rest of Russian society included landowners, army officials, government officials, bureaucrats, clergy, professionals (such as lawyers and teachers), merchants, traders, businessmen, and a very small industrial working class.
- Citizens from diverse professional fields contributed to a complex but constrained societal structure.
Challenges to Social Structure
- Russia's rigid social hierarchy faced challenges as the nation needed to adapt to the Industrial Age to compete with western European powers, which had already undergone transformative changes.
- The small number of urban workers and merchants illustrated Russia’s lagging status in comparison to industrialized nations.
Population Breakdown
- Nobility: 1.1%
- Priests: 1.1%
- Officials: 3.7%
- Military: 5%
- Merchants: 0.5%
- Urban Workers: 3.7%
- Serfs: 84.9%
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Description
Explore the intricate social structure of the Russian Empire through these flashcards. Discover the classist pyramid with the Tsar at the top and the dynamics between different social groups including the educated elite and the peasants. Dive into the ethnic divisions that further characterized Russian society.
