• A
  • A
  • A
  • ABC
  • ABC
  • ABC
  • А
  • А
  • А
  • А
  • А
Regular version of the site
Contacts

Address:
190068 Saint Petersburg
123 Griboedov channel, Room 123

Phone:+7 (812)786-92-49 

Postal address: 
190068 Saint Petersburg
123 Griboedov channel

Administration
Department Head Adrian A. Selin
Academic Supervisor Evgeniy Anisimov
Book
Remembering the Neoliberal Turn: Economic Change and Collective Memory in Eastern Europe after 1989

Gökarıksel S., Gontarska O., Hilmar T. et al.

L.: Routledge, 2023.

Article
Сholera Riots in Staraia Russa in 1831. People and the Authorities: Actions, Motives, Concerns
In press

Belan M.

Slavonic and East European Review. 2024. Vol. 102. No. 2.

Book chapter
The Stolbovo Treaty and Tracing the Border in Ingria in 1617–1618

Adrian Selin.

In bk.: Sweden, Russia, and the 1617 Peace of Stolbovo. Vol. 14. Turnhout: Brepols Publishers, 2024. P. 99-118.

Working paper
The Image of the Past in Ciro Spontone’s ‘Historia Della Transilvania’

Khvalkov E., Levin F., Кузнецова А. Д.

Working Papers of Humanities. WP. Издательский дом НИУ ВШЭ, 2021

History of Russia and Baltic Region

2019/2020
Academic Year
ENG
Instruction in English
5
ECTS credits
Delivered by:
Department of History
Type:
Elective course
When:
2 year, 1, 2 module

Instructors

Kraikovski, Alexei

Kraikovski, Alexei

Course Syllabus

Abstract

This course looks at the central issues of Russian history via the lens of global and transnational history with a special emphasis on the history of the Baltic Sea Region. The course is structured in an interdisciplinary manner, combining the methodology of historical science, international relations, geography, nationalism, environmental and cultural studies. The classes are viewed on a chronological and thematic basis and cover the political, social, economic and cultural processes of the past. Discussing the landmarks and long duree metanarratives from the Middle Ages till the end of the Soviet era, the course gives a possibility to illuminate and problematize the problem of modernization and backwardness, modernity and special path of development, East-West relations, and societal transformations. The course examines the ways by which Russian history synergizes with European and global historical processes and the ways it goes its own path of development. The course will allow students to analyze global and transregional trends from a regional perspective, as well as to identify different points of view and interests of interethnic, state and local actors. In addition, students will learn how to apply different theoretical models in the study of regional economic, political and environmental phenomena and processes. Covering a wide chronological and thematic field, the course provides an opportunity to highlight the key processes in the history of the Baltic region within the general perspective of the Russian history.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • The course examines the ways by which Russian history synergizes with European and global historical processes and the ways it goes its own path of development.
  • The course will allow students to analyze global and transregional trends from a regional perspective, as well as to identify different points of view and interests of interethnic, state and local actors.
  • Is able to create new theories, invent new ways and tools of professional activity
  • Is able to improve and develop his intellectual and cultural level, to build a trajectory of professional development and career
  • Able to perform professional activities, including research and development activities in the international environment
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • know key events, political, cultural and economic processes of history of the regions
  • Know the methodologies required for dissertational research and basic competences.
  • Able to perform research with modern research methods and techniques, using knowledge of the humanities and social sciences and close scientific fields of knowledge
  • Is able to perform interdisciplinary interaction and cooperation with representatives of other fields of knowledge while solving research and applied tasks
  • Is able to analyze historical sources, scientific texts and reports, to review scientific literature in Russian and foreign languages
  • Assesses information and predicts given objectives
  • Is able to analyze and propose scientific interpretation of historical events in their interrelation
  • Is able to use social and multicultural differences to solve problems in professional and social activities
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Baltic Space in Middle Ages
    The reasons for increasing interest in the Baltic. The fight for the inheritance of the Livonian Order. The intervention of Denmark and Sweden in the Livonian War, seizures in the Baltic States. Northern Seven Years' War. Russian-Swedish War of 1570-1595 years. "Great Eastern Program" Johan III. Hooks Sweden in Russian Karelia and the Baltic States. Treaty of Plussa. Tyavzinsky agreement.
  • Early Modern Scandinavia: State and resources
    Scandinavia in Early Modern World. Royal police and society through Gunpowder Revolution. "Royal mess" in Denmark. Strengthening of German influence, territorial losses. Valdemar IV Atterdag. Danish- dumbbell Zeya War 1367-1370. The political struggle in Sweden under King Birger. Swedish-Norwegian union. "Gloomy times" in Norway. The rise of the Hanseatic League. Internal policy Haakon VI Magnusson. Danish-Norwegian union. Socio-economic, political, dynastic presending union. Policy Margarita Danish in Denmark and Norway. Coronation Council in Kalmar. Act of Union. Socio-economic development of the countries of Northern Europe in the XV century. Internal colonization. Changes in the agricultural sector. Agricultural reform and trade. Urban development, the role of the German merchants. Christian I of Oldenburg. Danish-Norwegian union in 1450. Reforms in Christian II of Denmark and Norway. The political struggle in Sweden. Swedish-Danish war of 1517-1520 gg. "Stockholm blood bath". Rise of Gustav Vasa, the formation of an independent Swedish state. Deposition of Kristian II.
  • The reforms and modernization in the history of Russia
    The 18th century modernization project and the place of St. Petersburg in the knowledge circulation. The “space of modernity” and the spatial dynamics of the modern world. Obligatory Reading: Daniel Clarke Waugh, We Have Never Been Modern: Approaches to the Study of Russia in the Age of Peter the Great, Jahrbücherfür Geschichte Osteuropas, NeueFolge, Bd. 49, H. 3 (2001), pp. 321-345. Jarmo Kotilaine and Marshall Poe (eds) Modernizing Muscovy. Reform and social change in seventeenth-century Russia. Routledge, 2004.
  • The Sea in the History of Russia – construction and representation of Maritimity.
    The problem of being maritime and the concept of maritimity through the modernization perspective. The role of the Baltic Sea in the formation of the Russian maritimity in the 18th and 19th century. The Baltic Sea in a long-term and global perspectives. A concept of the Mediterranean of the North.
  • Introduction
  • Dynamic borders and conflicts of heritage and memory in the Baltic
    Baltic Empires of 13th – 19th centuries and the problem of contested heritage of the Eastern Baltic. Frontier and the development of infrastructure. The problem of borders in the conceptual vision of the New Coastal History.
  • Technology and Economic Development of Russia
    In this part, the course will discuss economic development of Russia through the 19th and 20th century until the present day via the lens of technology and technological innovations. We will approach technologies as triggers for economic development discussing what was specific in Russian history and tracing connections with today`s innovation policy.
  • Facets of National Identities
    This bloc will examine the national question in Russian history with a peculiar focus on the Russian Baltic region. It will also have a look at the problem of regional identity. Through a longue duree perspective, we will look at the major transformations of ideologies during the 19th and 21st centuries.
  • Perestroika Watershed
    This section will examine the Perestroika and its roles in Russian and global histories. At the lecture we will discuss the development of St. Petersburg as a Baltic city in transition.
  • Pre-Viking and Viking World
    Early Scandinavian history. Appearing of Scandinavia. Scandinavian historical narrative in contemporary history telling. Written sources of ancient history. Antique, Byzantine cal authors of Northern Europe. Western European medieval chronicles, the Russian chronicles. Literary monuments of Scandinavia. Saga as a historical source. Reasons for the main stages and directions, organizing hikes Vikings. The first states in Denmark, Norway, Sweden. Strengthening the institute of public and royal power. Economic changes. The social structure of the Scandinavian Viking society. Inter-Scandinavian clash. Knut the Great Power. Battle of Stemfordbridge and the Fall of Viking Age.
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking Class attendance and engagement
  • non-blocking Written assignments
    (current form of control)
  • non-blocking Written Exam
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • Interim assessment (2 module)
    0.3 * Class attendance and engagement + 0.2 * Written assignments + 0.5 * Written Exam
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • BRÜGGEMANN, K., & WEZEL, K. (2019). Nationally Indifferent or Ardent Nationalists? On the Options for Being German in Russia’s Baltic Provinces, 1905-17. Kritika: Explorations in Russian & Eurasian History, 20(1), 39–62. https://doi.org/10.1353/kri.2019.0002
  • Engel, B. A., & Martin, J. (2015). Russia in World History. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=971816
  • HARRISON, M. (2017). The Soviet Economy, 1917-1991: Its Life and Afterlife. Independent Review, 22(2), 199–206. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=bsu&AN=125003195

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Kontorovich, V., & Wein, A. (2009). What did the Soviet Rulers Maximise? Europe-Asia Studies, 61(9), 1579–1601. https://doi.org/10.1080/09668130903209145