The Alcoholic Empire: Vodka and Politics in Late Imperial Russia Patricia Herlihy begins her book with an attention grabbing quote from a Russian temperance priest stating that "There is nothing in the world worse than drunkenness." (1) This blunt phrase sets the tone of the book and prepares the reader for an up close and frankly detailed look at the role of alcohol in Russian history in all areas, including the economic, religious, social and political realms. ... This book also fit nicely into the class's recent discussions about Nicholas II, and provides some background for events t...

• Word Count: 1133
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

For a greater part of the 20th century Russia was under communistic rule. It was not until the late 50s where their communistic ways became a hazard for other countries; United States. Their role as communists did not affect nations in their early years of the 20th century. Russia had multiple leade...

• Word Count: 851
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

We can be sympathetic towards him because of the size of his empire but some of his problems were his own fault. ... Many people thought that this was unfair and tried to start a revolution to change things, but Nicholas wouldn't listen to them and circumstances and his poor leadership caused many problems leading to his eventual downfall. ...

• Word Count: 1294
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

It can be argued that it is not the collapse of the U.S.S.R. that led to the economic downfall, but rather it was years of poor financial responsibility by the Soviet leaders devoting as much as 17% of GDP to military spending.19 However despite these prerequisites, the actual collapse and lack of leadership was the spark leading to the economic debacle. ...

• Word Count: 1763
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Serfdom is a labor system under which most European agricultural workers lived during the Middle Ages. The term "serf" is derived from the Latin word "servus", meaning servant or slave. Most people are familiar with the term "slave" and when it is spoken of, nearly all people think back to the south...

• Word Count: 3296
• Approx Pages: 13
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

In the course of a morning, the morning of Blood Sunday, Nicholas II had lost the trust of his people and sown the seeds of his own downfall 12 years later. ... While Nicholas was away at war, he deputized his wife to oversee affairs of the empire. ...

• Word Count: 1936
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School