Chapter 32: Patterns of Chapter 32: Patterns of LifeLife

Section 3Section 3

TermsTerms

Icon - religious painting of Jesus, Icon - religious painting of Jesus, Mary, or a saint.Mary, or a saint.

Mir – village commune, usually Mir – village commune, usually regulated village life by a council of regulated village life by a council of men.men.

Russian SocietyRussian Society

Extreme separation of rich and poor Extreme separation of rich and poor caused discontentcaused discontent

Russian nobles called boyars during the Russian nobles called boyars during the 1700s preferred to speak French rather 1700s preferred to speak French rather than Russian.than Russian.

They adopted French culture but did not They adopted French culture but did not experience revolution like the French.experience revolution like the French.

Most of society consisted of serfs, their Most of society consisted of serfs, their was little change or progression due to the was little change or progression due to the autocratic rule of the czarsautocratic rule of the czars

Serfs and NoblesSerfs and Nobles

Serfs were bound Serfs were bound to land and were to land and were punished if they punished if they tried to escaped.tried to escaped.

Crop yields were Crop yields were small because small because there was no there was no incentive to work incentive to work the land for the land for themselvesthemselves

Nobles lived in lavish Nobles lived in lavish comfort with about comfort with about 100 servants.100 servants.

Men served the food Men served the food whereas women whereas women prepared the food.prepared the food.

Nobles maintained Nobles maintained discipline over their discipline over their serfs by beating and serfs by beating and flogging them.flogging them.

The Russian Orthodox ChurchThe Russian Orthodox Church

The Church was controlled by the Czar The Church was controlled by the Czar through appointment of officials and pay.through appointment of officials and pay.

The Church reported confessions and The Church reported confessions and crimes told by people in confession.crimes told by people in confession.

Priests gave comfort to peasants because Priests gave comfort to peasants because their hard work on Earth would be their hard work on Earth would be rewarded in heaven.rewarded in heaven.

Festivals and religious holidays provided Festivals and religious holidays provided entertainment. Trinity week marked the entertainment. Trinity week marked the beginning of Spring, St. Peter’s Day beginning of Spring, St. Peter’s Day marked the start of the harvest.marked the start of the harvest.

Peasant LifePeasant Life

Most peasants never traveled a few miles from home.Most peasants never traveled a few miles from home. Life revolved around the mir which regulated village life.Life revolved around the mir which regulated village life. Men were the head of households and controlled the rules Men were the head of households and controlled the rules

of the mir.of the mir. Peasants lived on sharecropping which had been the way Peasants lived on sharecropping which had been the way

of Western Europe centuries earlier.of Western Europe centuries earlier. Young men who were drafted for the army had to serve for Young men who were drafted for the army had to serve for

25 years. Families mourned their sons when they were 25 years. Families mourned their sons when they were drafted because they knew he would either die or come drafted because they knew he would either die or come home an older man.home an older man.

Newly weds lived in the husband’s parents house.Newly weds lived in the husband’s parents house. Most homes consisted of a wooden shack with one large Most homes consisted of a wooden shack with one large

room and one room for storage. The older family member room and one room for storage. The older family member slept closest to the warm stove.slept closest to the warm stove.

Most peasant ate bread and vegetable. Protein was rare.Most peasant ate bread and vegetable. Protein was rare.