Patterns of Life 32-3 By: T.J. Z

Lesson Questions How was Russia society organized? How did religion support the social system? What Daily activities shaped peasant life?

Vocabulary Icon- A religious painting of Jesus, Mary, or a saint Mir (Meer)- A village commune Serf- Peasants who worked for nobles and had almost no rights

Russian Society In the late 1700’s, after the enlightenment in Europe and America, many Russians became European Started talking French and dressing as the French did Autocratic czars prevented any real reform from occurring Nobles owned the land Serfs worked for the Nobles Nobles never changed their ways leaving the serfs desperately poor Nobles spent winters in either Moscow or St. Petersburg In the summer, they went back to their country estates so the serfs could work for them

The Russian Orthodox Church Supported political and social order Gov’t Appointed officials and financially supported them Every peasants home had an icon Peasants were the main followers of the church They were baptized young, married by Church Law, and received blessings as they lay dying

Peasant Life The Mir was the center of peasant life If a boy was called to serve in the army, he would be gone 25 years Families were patriarchal, extended families, the oldest man had the final word Women were lower than men and could not inherit the land Arranged marriages based on property Lived in a small wooden house that had one large room an 1 or 2 storage rooms They ate very abundant foods In the 1800’s they added potatoes and tea to their diet