The Russian Empire 1450–1801

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necessary to pursue their goals. Despite the challenges of size and dearth of
personnel, early modern empires deployed their power empire-wide where needed.
In so doing, they exerted a range of coercion from conquest and forcible population
movement to the building of empire-wide institutions of communication, law, and
bureaucracy.


COERCED MOBILITY


Stable at the center, tsars and the political elite wielded coercion to create and
control their empire. States, however, need to use violence wisely; violence cannot
be the primary means of governance, particularly in early modern conditions.
Empires as large and sparsely populated as Russia had neither resources for a
dense police presence nor a concept of total control. Rather, they conquered with
force and left in place credible threats of violence. Where possible, Moscow did not
destroy productive resources in conquering, as in razing towns and villages. But
they did not hesitate to kill if need be. In conquering Novgorod in 1478, the city’s
leadership was decimated: several were executed. As Russian troops moved across
Siberia, they brutally killed natives and destroyed their villages. Opposition was
brutally put down, as we saw with the regular uprisings of Tatars of the Middle


Figure 7.1The spring and autumn muddy seasons (rasputitsa) slowed down road travel in
Russia; here contrasting seasons outside of Novgorod. Photos: Jack Kollmann.


The State Wields its Power 161
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