History 325: Russia from its Origins to the Great Reforms Fall 2015 Dr. McCaffray Office: Morton 234 mccaffrays@uncw.edu Phone: 962-7542 Office hours: MW 12:30-4:30* and by appointment at other times *Once per month Dept. meeting on Monday at 3:30 will end office hours early: check with me! Although the series of states called Russian have straddled the man-made border between Europe and Asia, all of these states have been rooted in the Christian, which is to say predominantly European, world. Thus being Russian is one of the many ways of being European, but since boundaries cause debate, many Russians and Europeans debate about this. We can join the debate and have some fun with it, but we are not going to settle it. Nonetheless, Russia is unique, just like every other country. Particular material and cultural characteristics, anchored in time, have made Russian civilization distinctive. The course of Russia s history proceeded within the context of a harsh climate, sparse population, distance from the great Atlantic sea-routes, a particular relationship between the church and the state and extremely insecure national boundaries. Around the time of the founding of the Jamestown and Massachusetts Bay colonies in North America, the Russian social system was hardening into a unique combination of autocratic absolutism, serfdom, and noble privilege. In History 325 we will examine closely the relationship between rulers who eventually learned to create a strong state on this borderless plain and the people they ruled, who eventually learned how to accommodate, manipulate, and, sometimes, to escape their rulers. Course Goals: In this course I hope you will: Master significant details and interpretations of Russia's pre-20th c. history Practice interpreting primary sources Develop a habit of wondering about and articulating significant questions Improve your ability to read complex non-fiction Improve your ability to write about books and ideas Become a clearer thinker Contemplate the impact of history and geography on values and institutions Ponder the relationship between luck and virtue in the history of nations Departmental Learning objectives This course is meant to contribute to the ability of History majors to achieve these things by the time they graduate: frame historical questions employ a broad range of sources in research demonstrate awareness of interpretive differences
evaluate and analyze source material write clearly and effectively develop an interpretation based on evidence grasp relevant historical facts and contexts communicate orally Learn more about History Department Student Learning Outcomes here: http://www.uncw.edu/hst/majors/learninggoals.html Graded work: Class discussions (4 @ 50 pts. each) 200 points Map Assignment 50 Mid-term Exam 150 Paper on Rude & Barbarous (5 pages) 100 Paper on Ransel (5 pages) 200 Paper on Gogol 100 Final Exam 200 1000 Grade scale: 900-1000: A; 800-899: B; 700-799: C; and so on. I will assign +/- grades at the end of the semester, splitting each per centile into thirds (e.g.: 800-832 = B-; 833-865= B; 866-899= B+). Policies and suggestions: Because our classroom is small and the door is at the front of the room I have realized (reluctantly) the need to lock the door once class starts. Please do not try to enter after it is closed. If you plan to use a laptop computer in the classroom make sure that you do not use it for any purpose other than taking notes for this class because other students may be distracted. If I observe other students being distracted by your computer I will ask you not to bring the laptop to class anymore. Please don t text in class. It makes me feel left out. Please don t bring out any electronic device at all during the exams. I keep a record of attendance only for listed discussion days, and I will distribute the practices for grading discussions Nonetheless, I must recommend regular attendance; it seems to help with both learning and with your final grade Because this is an upper-level class, I assume you are familiar with what constitutes plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty; a full description of plagiarism and other important policies is available here: http://www.uncw.edu/odos/documents/cosl-current.pdf I will not accept late work UNLESS you have discussed this with me in advance. If you do that, I probably will, probably with a point reduction. Under no circumstance will I accept any work after the last day of classes
Having whined about all of that let me assure you that if you would like to come by my office and talk about history, the Russians, or your future educational plans, I would love to see you. If my office hours are not convenient just email me for a better time. I always try to be available at the advertised times, but if you know for sure you are coming by on a certain day feel free to verify that I will be there. Books required and available for purchase at UNCW Bookstore and Seahawk Books or elsewhere: James Cracraft, ed., Major Problems in the History of Imperial Russia (Heath, 1994) ISBN 0-669-21497-3 or 978-0669214970 Lloyd Berry & Robert Crummey, eds., Rude and Barbarous Kingdom (Wisconsin, 1968) 978-0299047641 David Ransel, A Russian Merchant s Tale (Indiana, 2009) 978-0-253-22020-2 Nikolai Gogol, The Inspector General (any edition ok; Dover Thrift: 978-0-486-28500-9) A copy of this textbook: Catherine Evtuhov, et al. A History of Russia: Peoples, Legends, Events, Forces is on reserve in the Library if you would like to use it when you get confused; it is also a good source of maps and suggested readings: Class Topics and Schedule of Assignments PART I Week One Aug. 19 Aug. 21 Week Two Aug. 24 Aug. 26 Aug. 28*** ESTABLISHING A STATE IN EURASIA Introduction Syllabus; The Arrival of the Vikings in Rus from the Russian Primary Chronicle (http://community.dur.ac.uk/a.k.harrington/russhist.html) The envelope of Russian history The Rus and their neighbors The rise and fall of Kievan Rus Cracraft, Chapter 1 ( Historical Overviews ) The Christianization of Russia from the RPC (http://community.dur.ac.uk/a.k.harrington/russhist.html) Prince Vladimir adopts Christianity Princes and Fratricide The Coming of the Mongols Map Assignment due
Week Three The Mongols and the Rise of Muscovy Berry, Two Early Voyages (Chancellor and Jenkinson) Aug. 31*** DISCUSSION NO. 1: What was the legacy of Kiev and the Mongols? Sept. 2 What does it take to make a state? Sept. 4 Neighbors and rivals: Lithuania and Poland Week Four Sept. 7 Sept. 9 Sept. 11 Week Five Sept. 14 Sept. 16 Sept. 18 Week Six Sept. 21 Sept. 23 Sept. 25 Week Seven Sept. 28 Sept. 30 Oct. 2*** Week Eight Oct. 5 Oct. 7 Oct. 9 Week Nine: The Russian state: to be or not to be Berry, A Diplomatic Mission (Randolph and Turberville) LABOR DAY: NO CLASS The rocky fifteenth century Monks and pioneers The reign of Ivan IV, a.k.a., the Terrible Berry, Giles Fletcher (start) The life and times of Ivan IV War, expansion, crisis Being a woman in Muscovite Russia Collapse: The Time of Troubles Berry, Giles Fletcher (finish) Dynastic crisis and foreign invasion Popular monarchism/popular rebellion The rise of serfdom The cruel seventeenth century Cracraft, Chapter 2 (The Muscovite Heritage) Schism in the Orthodox Church Cossacks, Ukraine, rebels DISCUSSION NO. 2: Ivan and the Englishmen Paper Due The Age of Peter the Great Cracraft, Chapter 3 (The Era of Peter the Great) Peter and Sophia Military persistence and government reform Cultural revolution Court, Capital and Palace Cracraft, Ch. 4 (From Peter to Catherine)
Oct. 12 Oct. 14 Oct. 16*** FALL BREAK: NO CLASS Anna, Elizabeth and Peter III Mid-term Exam PART 2 CONSOLIDATING AND CHALLENGING THE STATE Week Ten Catherine the Greatest? Cracraft, Ch. 5 (The Age of Catherine) and Documents pp. 249-252 (Russia annexes Crimea); Start Ransel, A Russian Merchant s Tale Oct. 19 Oct. 21 Oct. 23 Week Eleven The Enlightened Empress Imperial Expansion Commerce The Age of Revolution A Russian Merchant s Tale Oct. 26*** DISSCUSSION NO. 3 Was Russia modern in 1796? Oct. 28 Alexander I and the French Revolution Oct. 30 Urban life, urban monarchy Week Twelve Nov. 2 Nov. 4 Nov. 6*** Week Thirteen Russia at the dawn of the nineteenth century Finish Ransel, A Russian Merchant s Tale Being a noble Being a serf Adam Smith in Russia PAPER ON RANSEL DUE Russia s Napoleonic Wars Cracraft, Ch. 7 (Apogee of Empire) Nov. 9 Between Britain and France Nov. 11 The real war of 1812 Nov. 13 Decembrist Rebellion Week Fourteen Nov. 16 Nov. 18 Nov. 20 The Apogee of Russian Monarchy Nikolai Gogol, The Inspector General Debating Emancipation Eastern Question and Crimean War The Tsar Liberator
Week Fifteen Nov. 23*** Nov. 25-7 Reform Start Cracraft, Ch. 8 (Emancipation and the Great Reforms) Paper on Gogol due THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY: NO CLASS Week Sixteen Consequences Finish Cracraft, Ch. 8 Nov. 30 Dec. 2*** The Great Reforms and the death of the Reformer DISCUSSION NO. 4 on monarchy and emancipation