Catherine the Great and Russia, 1762–1796 study guide

Study Guide: Catherine the Great and Russia, 1762–1796

Key Themes

1. Catherine's Character and Aims

• Understand Catherine's background, education, and her vision for Russia.
• Analyze her ambitions for territorial expansion and modernization.

1. Enlightenment Influence

• Explore how Enlightenment ideas shaped her policies and reforms.
• Discuss her correspondence with Enlightenment thinkers and the impact on governance.

1. Government Reforms

• Examine the Great Commission and its role in legal reform.
• Assess changes in central and local government structures.

1. Societal Changes

• Investigate the role of landownership and the gentry in Russian society.
• Evaluate the impact of educational reforms and religious changes.

1. Economic Issues

• Analyze the persistence of serfdom and its effects on economic development.
• Discuss the limitations of Catherine's economic policies.

1. Opposition and Rebellion

• Review the causes and consequences of the Pugachev Revolt.
• Assess Catherine's strategies for dealing with opposition.

1. Foreign Affairs

• Outline key conflicts with Sweden, Turkey, and Poland.
• Discuss the significance of territorial gains and the partition of Poland.

Study Tips

• Create timelines to visualize key events and reforms.
• Compare and contrast Catherine's policies with those of her predecessors and successors.
• Engage with primary sources to gain insight into the period's political and social climate.