Chapter 1.1 - State of Russia in 1855

Question 1

What was the size of Russia in 1855

Answer 1

-Covered 1/6 of the world’s total land mass stretching over Europe and Asia
-USA could fit in 2.5 times and UK over 90 times

Question 2

What was the population of Russia like in 1855

Answer 2

-55.6 million of the people in Russia were Russian
-It was made up of a lot of other nationalities, such as there were 7.9 million Polish people in Russia and 5 million Jews

Question 3

What was the terrain like in Russia in 1855

Answer 3

-North was a frozen tundra for most of year
-Under was cast forest which was huge resource but some part were impenetrable
-Steppes are open grassland food for agriculture (fertile land)

Question 4

What was the communication like in Russia in 1855

Answer 4

-Few paved roads outside of big cities
-Roads turned to mud in heavy rain as were hard packed Earth
-Railways were underdeveloped. In 1951 the Moscow to St. Petersburg railway opened.

Question 5

Why did the terrain make Russia difficult to live in in 1855

Answer 5

-Lots of areas (tundra and impenetrable forest) were unable to be used for agriculture
-Due to lacking transport it would be difficult for people to send or receive goods

Question 6

Why did serfs have a difficult life in 1855