Cossacks and the Russian Empire, 1598-1725
Subtitle: Manipulation, Rebellion and Expansion into Siberia (Routledge Studies in the History of Russia and Eastern Europe)
Edition: 1 edition
Publisher: Routledge
Published: June 4, 2007
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 259
ISBN-13: 9780415416214
Subjects: European history: c 1500 to c 1750; History; History - General History; History: World; Russia; General; Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union; 17th century; Central-local government relations; Cossacks; Government relations; Power (Social sciences); Russia (Federation); Siberia
Description: "This book explores the ways in which the Russians governed their empire in Siberia from 1598 to 1725. Russian control over Siberia was extraordinary, dependent on a handful of men at a vast distance from the centre of imperial power, with no regular armed force and a cash-starved economy. It raises important questions concerning the nature of the Russian autocracy in the early modern period, investigating the hitherto neglected relations of a vital part of the empire with the metropolitan centre, and examining how the Russian authorities were able to control such a vast and distant frontier given the limited means at their disposal. It is argued that, despite this great physical distance, the representations of the tsar's rule in the symbols, texts and gestures that permeated Siberian institutions were close at hand, thus allowing the promotion of political stability and favourable terms of trade. Particular attention is paid to investigating the role of the Siberian Cossacks, and explaining how the institutions of empire facilitated their position as traders via the sharing of cultural practices, attitudes and expectations of behaviour across vast distances among the members of organizations or personal networks. Overall, this book is a thorough appraisal of how the institutions of Russian imperial government functioned in seventeenth century Siberia."--BOOK JACKET.