Summer 2026 - HIST 334 D100
The Making of Imperial Russia (4)
Class Number: 1796
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
May 11 – Jun 19, 2026: Tue, Thu, 11:30 a.m.–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Ilya Vinkovetsky
ivink@sfu.ca
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Prerequisites:
45 units, including six units of lower division history. Recommended: HIST 106.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
An examination of major themes in Russian history up to the Revolution of 1917, including the emergence of the modern Russian state; the organization of the empire at the center and the periphery; the contest between imperial, national, and religious identities; social, economic, and cultural transformations; and the Russian Empire's involvement in world politics.
COURSE DETAILS:
This is a study of Russia from 1721 to 1917. After a brief consideration of Russia’s development, we will spend most of the semester examining the Russian Empire from the time of its proclamation under emperor Peter I (also known as “Peter the Great”) in the early 18th century until its collapse during the First World War.
On the grander level, we will pay attention to the organization of the empire at the centre and the periphery; the tensions between imperial, national, and religious identities; and debates among the Russians (and non-Russians) about the destiny of their country and its place in the world. We will examine the Russian empire’s social and cultural transformations, multiethnic character, territorial expansion, imperial and colonial policies, economic strategies, and role in world affairs. But as we pay attention these broader developments and contexts, we will also look at the lives of some ordinary and not-so-ordinary folks, and ask ourselves: what was it like for them to live in this empire-state?
Grading
- Participation 15%
- In-class Writing 15%
- Midterm 30%
- Final 40%
NOTES:
This course counts toward either a Group 3: Europe requirement, or a Group 4: Global Comparative requirement for History majors.
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
Paul Bushkovitch, A Concise History of Russia. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2012.
Olga Semyonova Tian-Shanskaia, Village Life in Late Imperial Russia. Bloomington, Ind.: Indiana University Press, 1993.
Douglas Smith, The Pearl: A Tale of Forbidden Love in Catherine the Great’s Russia. Yale University Press, 2008.
Leo Tolstoy, Hadji Murat. Vintage, 2012.
REQUIRED READING NOTES:
Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.
Department Undergraduate Notes:
Learn more about studing History at SFU:
History areas of study
Why study History?
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.
To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit:
- SFU’s Academic Integrity Policy: S10-01 Policy
- SFU’s Academic Integrity website, which includes helpful videos and tips in plain language: Academic Integrity at SFU
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION
Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.