History, Politics, and Culture in Tolstoy's War and Peace
Historical Context
Political Context
Slavophiles | Westernizers |
---|---|
Conservative: believed Russian institutions and government better than Western forms | More radical: believed in more liberal, Western political structures and ideologies |
Mostly Orthodox Christians | Atheists or Deists with own faith |
Cultural Context
Social classes
Russian Orthodox Church
Increasing Western Influence
Censorship
Education
Map of Russian Expansion in Asia
Decembrist Revolt in Senate Square, St. Petersburg (Karl Kolman, 1830s)
Battle of Balaklava, Crimean War, 1854
"Harvesting" (G. Myasoyedov)
Christ the Savior Cathedral, Moscow