What were the social, economic and political conditions in Russia before 1905?
The social, economic and political conditions in Russia were very dishonourable before 1905 revolution. At the starting of the 20th century about 85% of the Russia population was agriculturists. Russia was a major exporter of grains and this industry was found in pocket only. Most of the industries were run by the private industrialists. Because of wide spread corruption and exploitations, sometimes workers didn't get even the minimum wages with no limit of working hours. Russia was an autocracy and was ruled by the tsar. The tsar especially tsar Nicholas II was a self willed corrupt oppressive ruler. He ignored the public welfare in which the conditions of the peasants and workers had also become very dishonourable. The workers and peasants both were divided. Peasants frequently refused to pay rent and even murdered the landlords. Being influenced by the democratic experiments by the western European countries the Russian also demanded for a responsible government but all their demands were turned down.
Why did the Tsarist autocracy collapse in 1917?
Write a few lines to show what you know about:
! kulaks
! the Duma
! women workers between 1900 and 1930
! the Liberals
! Stalinís collectivisation programme.
In what ways was the working population in Russia different from other countries in Europe, before 1917?
What were the main changes brought about by the Bolsheviks immediately after the October Revolution?
Make two lists: one with the main events and the effects of the February Revolution and the other with the main events and effects of the October Revolution. Write a paragraph on who was involved in each, who were the leaders and what was the impact of each on Soviet history.
Describe the circumstances leading to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in France.
Describe the problems faced by the Weimar Republic.
Discuss how the changes in forest management in the colonial period affected the following groups of people:
! Shifting cultivators
! Nomadic and pastoralist communities
! Firms trading in timber/forest produce
! Plantation owners
! Kings/British officials engaged in shikar
Explain why nomadic tribes need to move from one place to another. What are the advantages to the environment of this continuous movement?
Which groups of French society benefited from the revolution? Which groups were forced to relinquish power? Which sections of society would have been disappointed with the outcome of the revolution?
Discuss why Nazism became popular in Germany by 1930.
What are the similarities between colonial management of the forests in Bastar and in Java?
Discuss why the colonial government in India brought in the following laws. In each case, explain how the law changed the lives of pastoralists:
! Waste Land rules
! Forest Acts
! Criminal Tribes Act
! Grazing Tax
Describe the legacy of the French Revolution for the peoples of the world 4during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
What are the peculiar features of Nazi thinking?
How would you explain the rise of Napoleon?
Describe the problems faced by the Weimar Republic.
Between 1880 and 1920, forest cover in the Indian subcontinent declined by 9.7 million hectares, from 108.6 million hectares to 98.9 million hectares. Discuss the role of the following factors in this decline:
! Railways
! Shipbuilding
! Agricultural expansion
! Commercial farming
! Tea/Coffee plantations
! Adivasis and other peasant users
Give reasons to explain why the Maasai community lost their grazing lands.
Why are forests affected by wars?
Explain why Nazi propaganda was effective in creating a hatred for Jews.
Draw up a list of democratic rights we enjoy today whose origins could be traced to the French Revolution.
Explain why nomadic tribes need to move from one place to another. What are the advantages to the environment of this continuous movement?
Which groups of French society benefited from the revolution? Which groups were forced to relinquish power? Which sections of society would have been disappointed with the outcome of the revolution?
Explain what role women had in Nazi society. Return to Chapter 1 on the French Revolution. Write a paragraph comparing and contrasting the role of women in the two periods.