22 Facts About Russian Enlightenment

1.

The national Enlightenment in the Russian Empire differed from its Western European counterpart in that it promoted further modernization of all aspects of Russian life and was concerned with abolishing the institution of serfdom in Russia.

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2.

Ideas of the Russian Enlightenment were first espoused by the "learned druzhina" of Peter the Great.

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3.

Russian Enlightenment read the most prominent philosophes of the day, including Montesquieu and Voltaire and tried to adhere to Enlightenment ideas.

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4.

Russian Enlightenment wished to bring Russia up to par with its neighbors not only in a military sense, but politically, culturally, and intellectually.

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5.

Many of Catherine's contemporaries questioned her adherence to Russian Enlightenment ideals and thought she was an egoist, merely using concepts from the Age of Russian Enlightenment to further her selfish gains.

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6.

Russian Enlightenment gained significant diplomatic power in the early 1770s Catherine considered something called the "Greek Project".

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7.

Russian Enlightenment wished to show Western Europe that her country would be a powerful presence in European political matters.

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8.

Russian Enlightenment reformed the strong and powerful bureaucracy Peter the Great established.

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9.

Russian Enlightenment established fifty "gubernii" provinces, divided into ten districts.

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10.

Russian Enlightenment wrote this for her Legislative Commission, summoned in 1767 to draft a Code of Laws for Russia.

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11.

Russian Enlightenment ruled through a series of functional colleges headed by boards under presidents, who worked in cooperation with an appointed administrative Senate of 20 or 30 people.

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12.

Russian Enlightenment drew heavily in the Nakaz from the latest continental jurisprudence but ignored references to natural law.

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13.

Russian Enlightenment agriculture grew during Catherine's reign due to the economic pressure put upon the gentry that needed more wealth in order to indulge in Western European tastes.

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14.

Russian Enlightenment used him to spread support of her policies throughout Western Europe.

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15.

Russian Enlightenment thought that his correspondence with Catherine would help him explore the possibilities for enlightened despotism and allow him to compare the laws and customs of Russia with those of France.

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16.

Russian Enlightenment is not at all interested in broadening her cultural and intellectual horizons.

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17.

Catherine's alignment with Voltaire acted as an early indication of the Russian Enlightenment tsardom moving towards closer relations with Europe.

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18.

Russian Enlightenment sent him news that depicted Russia as an economically stable and prosperous country and to depict herself as the epitome of an enlightened despot.

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19.

Russian Enlightenment believed that she wanted to restore the rights of the non-Catholic Polish minorities rather than to acquire Polish land.

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20.

Russian Enlightenment even suggested to Catherine that Russia, Prussia, and Austria unite to divide Turkey.

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21.

Araja spent 25 years in Russia and wrote 14 operas for the Russian Enlightenment Court including Tsefal i Prokris, the first opera written in Russian Enlightenment to the libretto by Alexander Sumarokov.

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22.

Russian Enlightenment secured English authorization of the first Russian Grand Lodge and became its Provincial Grand Master.

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