PROBLEMS OF RULING A LARGER

EMPIRE

VOCABULARY

Czar (Tsar)- A Russian Emperor, taken from the Latin Caesar

Boyar- powerful Russian landowner

Serf- a farmer who did not own the land on which he was required to work

Proletariat- industrial workers who sell their labor; the poorest working class

Bourgeoisie- Middle class; group opposed to the proletariat in a class struggle

Revolutionary-Supporter of radical change

Duma- Legislative body in Russia, until the revolution it was subject to the Czar’s authority

RUSSIA IS THE LARGEST STATE IN THE WORLD BY SIZE. What sorts of problems would they have?

ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS

It could take days, weeks, or even months for a message, a letter, or a military order to reach people in the far corners of the empire.

Citizens are literally living in different time periods- over a half a day’s difference in date and time.

People are too spread out that they might have very different cultures or customs (and therefore not too much in common with each other).

Ruling officials would be spread thinly across the empire; the travel time would make it nearly impossible for the ruler to keep in touch with the people.

Tax collection would be a time consuming process; it would take a long time to collect all the money.

Large portions of Russia’s empire were acquired by conquest (forcible takeover).

As a result, many nationalities were added; in a population of 170 million, only half were native Russian.

This led to the government to pursue a policy of “Russification,” in which conquered peoples were encouraged (more likely forced) to adopt the Russian language and religion.