ABSTRACT

This is a collection of thirteen major essays on eighteenth-century Russia by one of the most distinguished Western historians. They illustrate and explore three major themes: the development of the Russian state and Russian society, in the years when Russia was changing from a minor power on the European periphery to a major actor on the continental stage; the influence of western ideas and western thought on Russian politics and culture; and the impact of the Enlightenment on Russia. This is a substantial contribution not just to the history of Russia, but to early modern Europe generally.

chapter |11 pages

Introduction

part 1|82 pages

Russian Government and Society

part 2|97 pages

Social and Administrative Problems

part 3|103 pages

Catherine II, Russian Society, and the World of Ideas