by Maurice Baring. 1914. 328p

The Russian peasant has been a crucial part of society for centuries, transitioning from serfdom to emancipation and communal land ownership to individual property rights. Reforms in the 19th and 20th centuries have empowered peasants to become independent landowners and farmers. With access to capital and education, peasants are on the path to owning the land they work on, leading to increased agricultural productivity. The issuance of the imperial manifesto in 1905 marked a shift towards limited autocracy, promising civic liberties and the establishment of a National Assembly, the Duma, bringing Russia closer to a more democratic system while retaining the Emperor’s autocratic power.