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Peoples of Russia in the 18th Century and the State's Policy

In the 1700s the Russian Empire grew to include many peoples: Russians and Ukrainians, Tatars, Bashkirs, Chuvash and Mari on the Volga, Kalmyks, Siberian peoples, Baltic peoples and, after the partitions of Poland, Belarusians, Lithuanians and many Jews. The state did not treat all places the same. It ended Ukrainian self-rule (the Hetman's office in 1764, the Zaporozhian Sich in 1775), let Baltic nobles keep rights for a time, and took yasak, a fur tax, from Siberian peoples. In 1773 a decree allowed all faiths, and a Muslim spiritual assembly was founded at Ufa in 1788. The state also invited foreign settlers (1763) and in 1791 set the Pale of Settlement for Jewish traders. Some peoples, like the Bashkirs, lost land, and the Pugachev war showed their anger.

🎬 Step-by-step story

  1. Eight coloured blocks show eight groups of people living in one empire. Count them.
  2. The empire grew in steps: the Baltic after 1721, parts of Poland in 1772, 1793 and 1795, and Crimea in 1783. Each step brought new peoples.
  3. Three places, three rules. Ukraine lost its own offices (1764, 1775). The Baltic kept local rights for a time. Siberian peoples paid a fur tax.
  4. A 1773 decree said every faith should be tolerated. A church, a mosque and a synagogue stand side by side.
  5. Settlers came to the Volga (1763), people moved to the south, and in 1791 Jewish traders got a fixed area to live in, the Pale.
  6. Your turn. Tap each people and read what happened to them.

Tip: drag the 3D scene to turn it. Use two fingers to zoom.

🤔 Common doubts, cleared

How many different peoples lived in the empire?

Many more than eight; the eight blocks are the main groups. Count them in step 1.

How did so many peoples come into one empire?

By wars, treaties and the partitions of Poland. Each step brought new people. See step 2.

Why were different places ruled differently?

Each had its own history and elite, and the state used different tools to control them. See step 3.

Could people practise their own religion?

Mostly yes, after the 1773 decree, though Orthodoxy kept first place. See step 4.

Why did settlers come to the Volga?

The state wanted to farm empty land and offered land and some freedoms. See step 5.

Which people lost land and how did that connect to Pugachev?

The Bashkirs lost land to forts and factories, and many joined Pugachev. Tap them in step 6.

A land of many peoples

In the 1700s Russians were the largest group, but the empire also had Ukrainians, Tatars, Bashkirs, Chuvash and Mari (on the Volga and the Urals), Kalmyks on the steppe, many Siberian peoples, and Baltic peoples such as Estonians and Latvians with German-speaking nobles. After the partitions of Poland the empire also took in many Belarusians, Lithuanians and Jews. These peoples spoke different languages and followed different faiths: Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Catholicism, Lutheranism and local beliefs.

How the empire grew

After the Northern War the Baltic lands came to Russia (1721). Under Catherine II Russia took Crimea in 1783 and, with Austria and Prussia, shared out Poland: 1772, 1793 and 1795. In 1783 a treaty also put the Georgian kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti under Russian protection. Each step brought new peoples and new rules to decide.

Policy: different rules for different places

The state wanted one strong centre. In Ukraine the old self-government was ended: the post of Hetman in 1764 and the Zaporozhian Sich (the Cossack stronghold) in 1775. In the Baltic lands the German-speaking nobles had been allowed to keep local laws, and in 1783 these lands were brought closer to the rules of the rest of Russia. Siberian peoples paid yasak, a tax in furs. Among the Kalmyks, in 1771 many left the Volga steppe, and the khan's title was ended. The Bashkirs lost land to forts, towns and factories, one reason they joined Pugachev.

Faiths and settlers

Catherine II wished to avoid religious quarrels. A decree of 1773 said all faiths should be tolerated, and in 1788 a Muslim spiritual assembly was set up at Ufa so that Muslims had an official body. The Orthodox Church still held the first place.

The state also wanted people to farm empty land. A manifesto of 1763 invited foreign settlers, and many Germans settled along the Volga with land and some freedoms. After the partitions, in 1791, Jewish traders were allowed to live only in a set area, the Pale of Settlement.

Key formulas and definitions

Worked examples

1. Why did the state end the Hetman's office in 1764?

It wanted one central rule over all lands, so it ended Ukraine's own offices and put them under Russian officials.

2. What did the 1773 decree say, and why does it matter?

It said all faiths should be tolerated. It matters because the empire had many religions, so peace between them helped the state stay calm.

3. Name two groups that were invited or allowed to move, and say where.

German farmers were invited in 1763 and settled on the Volga. Cossacks and peasants moved to new lands in the south.

Common mistakes

Practice quiz

1. Which tax did Siberian peoples pay in furs?
2. In which year was the Hetman's office ended?
3. What did the 1773 decree allow?
4. Which area was set for Jewish traders in 1791?
5. Who were invited in 1763 to settle on the Volga?

Practice: answer these yourself

Type or choose your answer, then press Check. Use a hint if you are stuck; the full solution appears after you answer.

Frequently asked questions

Was the Russian Empire of the 1700s multinational?

Yes. Russians, Ukrainians, Tatars, Bashkirs, Baltic peoples, Siberian peoples, Kalmyks, Jews, Germans and others lived in it.

What was the Pale of Settlement?

A set area where Jewish people were allowed to live, set in 1791 after the partitions of Poland.

Why did the state end Ukrainian self-rule?

It wanted one central system of government and army for the whole empire.

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