Text | Lanzi Ji
Ed Lanzi Ji
In other words, today's Russia is as strong as a woolly bear, and it is at the top of the world in terms of military strength, scientific and technological development, industrial technology and medical level.
What is less well known, however, is that hundreds of years ago in Russia was not as calm as a sunny lake......
Exile in Siberia in 1648-1917
Since ancient times, there have been various means of punishing criminals, and the exile system is one of them.
The Russian system of exile originated in 1648 and punished deceptive beggars, soothsayers, boxers, and arsonists. These men will be sent to Siberia for the rest of their lives.
Since 1729, the government has had the power to send political dissidents to the region, a move that marked the gradual expansion of exile into the political sphere.
According to historical records, from 1762 onwards, the rebellion of the serfs became an important reason for their exile.
As the law evolved, there were more and more cases of exile for spreading rumors and refusing to pay taxes, such as the forced exile of Jews who had not paid taxes for more than three years in 1800.
The Decembrist Incident of 1825, the policy of exile reached its climax in Russian history, and this elite group of elites who opposed the tsarist autocracy was urgently exiled by the government to distant Siberia.
Similar measures were taken during the Polish uprisings of 1831 and 1863, and by the end of the 19th century, anarchists, populists, and other politicians of different political views were also in exile.
The author argues that the policy of exile, as an important criminal law in Russian history, has undergone centuries of change and development, and has gradually evolved from the initial punishment of only a few criminals to a politically charged means of reform.
It is not difficult to see the uniqueness of Russian social history, as well as the government's unremitting pursuit of social order and the construction of the legal system.
Anarchists of 1840-1906
In the nineteenth century, the French philosopher Louis Bruhon and the Russian anarchist Mikhail Alexandrovich Bakunin, among others, put forward the ideas of anti-bureaucracy and demanding equal freedom.
However, the methods taken by the two were very different, with Bruhon advocating non-violence and Bakunin advocating violent revolution.
Proudhon, in his writings as early as 1840, made it clear that so-called wealth was theft.
He advocated the overthrow of official institutions and the system of money and the state in order to achieve equality and freedom for all. However, he was wary of violent revolutions, fearing that they might lead to new forms of slave rule.
The Russian anarchist Bakunin, on the other hand, advocated a more radical approach. In his 1842 remarks, he saw destruction as an equal factor with creation.
He saw the Russian peasants as instruments of a violent revolution and encouraged terrorist activities. In addition, he endorsed the broader wave of assassinations triggered by the assassination of Tsar Alexander II in St. Petersburg as a spark to revolution.
The Russian anarchist, Prince Kropotkin, once said that an ingenious assassination not only dealt an extreme blow to the dictatorship, but also disrupted the pace of its recovery. This view was widely shared after the assassination of Tsar Alexander II in 1881.
To a certain extent, both Proudhon's peaceful evolution and Bakunin's violent revolution were aimed at the pursuit of an ideal society of equality, freedom, and justice. Although they have different methodologies, their goal is the same, which is to seek the well-being of the people.
Russian-Chinese trade in 1850-1870
In the fifties and sixties of the 19th century, the harsh natural environment and long transportation routes brought great obstacles to the development of trade between Russia and China.
However, with unwavering determination and perseverance, Russian merchants succeeded in facilitating this trade exchange.
Since the 18th century, Russia and China have had extensive and deep trade relations.
The two-way trade route between the East and the West, which spanned the vast sea and the vast land, was about 6,000 kilometers long, and the mountain roads were twisting and difficult, but this is the testimony of the "courage to explore" of the Russian merchants.
More than 90 percent of the more than 4,000 miles from Moscow to Kyakhta, China, rely on snow-covered rivers and cross seven different rivers, taking about three years to reach its destination.
In addition, the journey from the Mongolian trading city to Beijing was more than 1,000 miles, requiring a long trek through a large desert area, which undoubtedly added more obstacles to trade exchanges.
However, Russian businessmen were not deterred by these difficulties, on the contrary, with continuous efforts, they succeeded in opening up trade markets and establishing strong and long-term trade relations with China.
The Far East in 1850-1890
From 1847 to 1860, Nikolai Muravyov, then governor of the Siberian region, adopted hegemonic behavior in his policy toward China and actively pursued aggressive territorial expansion plans, causing China to lose nearly 400,000 square kilometers of territory.
In 1847, Muravyov was appointed to govern Siberia, and during his 14-year reign, China was subjected to unprecedented imperialist aggression. Concerned about the expansion of British power in China, Muravyov sought an alliance with the emerging United States in order to contain British ambitions.
Eventually, in 1858 and 1860, Russia successfully occupied large swathes of Chinese territory, including the northeast, northwest, and southern Xinjiang, with a total area of more than 400,000 square kilometers, which was almost equal to the total area of France and Germany combined.
However, the population of this vast territory is a paltry 15,000 people.
In order to promote the development of the region, the Moscow government forced the country's "Cossacks" to emigrate there, while selling the land at a low price. As a result, the population of this vast territory had grown from 100,000 in 1880 to 310,000 in 1897.
As the latest irrefutable historical evidence, this incident reminds us that we must resolutely resist all forms of hegemonism and aggression and defend national sovereignty and national dignity at all times and in all places.
Trans-Siberian Railway in 1891-1917
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the population of Siberia grew from 500,000 to nearly 10 million.
According to historical records, at the end of the 18th century, the total population of Russia was about 14 million, of which only 500,000 lived in Siberia.
However, since the early 19th century, in the 1800s, more than 5 million Russians from Europe chose to move to Siberia. By the beginning of the 20th century, in 1914, the total population of Siberia had grown to almost 9 million people.
On the one hand, in order to exploit this huge treasure trove of resources, from the beginning of the 19th century, millions of Russians mobilized and crossed the Ural Mountains, located in northern Asia, to Siberia.
On the other hand, the government believed that sending criminals and political prisoners to this unmanaged land would help solve the "crime problem", so from the early 19th century onwards, ships carrying these displaced people continued to sail to Siberian ports.
In this era of mass migration, most of the immigrants are not seen as outsiders, but as local residents, actively integrating into the local ecosystem.
More and more of the labor force is seeking opportunities for survival and development in urban planning, and many are even beginning to build a colonial culture for the new Siberian homeland through employment.
From the point of view of social development, this unprecedented population growth has indeed provided a valuable impetus for the economic development of Siberia.
Russia and the European Powers of 1872-1887
Looking at this map, it is not difficult to see that international tensions are once again rising, and the alliance between Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Germany is facing a severe test.
As the fighting escalated, why did Austria-Hungary and Russia want to hold on to the Balkans, and how could Germany protect its interests from loss?
At that time, both Austria-Hungary and Russia had a strong interest in the Balkans. However, the hostilities between the two countries were contained by Bismarck. The iron-blooded prime minister succeeded in dividing the sphere of influence between the two countries in the region and avoiding the outbreak of war.
Germany, on the other hand, was wary of Russia's rapid approach to Austria-Hungary, knowing that such a move could upset its diplomatic balance. Thus, Bismarck, through several mediations, prevented the two countries from forming an alliance against Russia (the most prominent of which was the Reinsurance Treaty signed by Germany and Russia in 1887).
However, Russia's reluctance to easily relinquish its hegemony over Central Europe, especially the partition of the Polish lands led by Alexander I in 1815, undoubtedly intensified Russia's sense of threat to the rise of Austria-Hungary and Germany.
This time, Russia chose to side with Germany and Austria-Hungary in order to preserve their existing rights and interests in the Balkans.
Sometimes, international disputes often involve complex exchanges of interests and political manipulations.
1890-1907 The balance of power between Russia and the countries of Europe
With the changing times, the wrestling between Germany and other European continental powers in the political, military and other fields has never stopped changing. Especially after Bismarck's departure in 1890, the struggle intensified.
Today, we see a deepening of cooperation between Germany and Austria-Hungary, and Russia, once a balancing instrument of influence, has now turned to an alliance with France.
This shift has added new variables to the European Union, which was already dominated by the United Kingdom. Although they were not yet formally aligned, this cooperation heralded the formation of the Triple Entente in 1914, which changed the original strategic landscape of Europe.
Experts believe that the mutual support between Germany and Austria-Hungary will prompt the two countries to expand their spheres of influence in the emerging Balkans. This may mean that Russia will face a more serious geopolitical situation.
However, some have pointed out that while such a change of situation would bring more uncertainty to Europe, it would also provide new opportunities for future cooperation.
For example, can relations between Germany and the UK be improved in the new strategic situation, and can countries forge closer trade links with each other in order to achieve mutual benefits?
The author believes that from the moment Bismarck left the stage, the balance of power in Europe had quietly changed. In the decades since, the continent's political map, military presence, and economic ties have evolved.
These changes have not only affected the confrontation between the countries of the European continent, but also produced a strong impetus for the global economy, culture and even the ideological field.
1860-1895 Russia and Japan in the Far East
Since 1860, Russia and Japan have been engaged in a long and fierce rivalry in the Far East.
During this period, Japan tried to expand its influence against China and Korea, but after defeating the Qing government in 1895, Russia and other powers jointly deprived it of the results of the war, which led to large-scale dissatisfaction with Russia in Japan.
At the same time, the penetration of European forces into South China has intensified over the years.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Russia and Japan engaged in a long-term rivalry on the world stage, including in the Far East.
In 1860, Japan brought itself closer to the Asian continent by acquiring a port in the Sea of Japan by force. From this point on, Japan began to pursue a more aggressive policy toward China and North Korea in an attempt to expand its sphere of influence.
However, after Japan's defeat of the Qing Dynasty in 1895, it intended to attempt to gain a larger territory in order to consolidate its presence in Asia. However, major powers such as Russia, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany joined forces to protest, and as a result, Japan's interests were seriously eroded.
This incident has aroused strong resistance in Japanese society towards Russia and has become one of the important reasons for the tension between the two countries.
In the process, the influence of European countries in southern China has also been further enhanced. On the one hand, Europe's expansion into the Far East has promoted international exchanges and cooperation, but on the other hand, it has also exacerbated regional contradictions.
It was against this background that the Russo-Japanese War broke out.
The war lasted almost six months and ended in a Russian defeat. After the end of the war, Russia was forced to cede certain lands to Japan, but, as mentioned earlier, such actions only provoked the beginning of more complex and bitter international disputes, not peace.
epilogue
Time flies, and Russia and Japan reveal magnificent chapters on the world stage.
Through the carelessness of the geographical map, we can appreciate its outstanding cultural scenery, appreciate its splendid historical picture, and understand its profound cultural connotation.
Here, the map is not only an exhaustive historical book, but also a solemn and well-deserved cultural heritage, showing us the majestic spiritual rhythm of the evolution of human civilization.
Looking at the signs on the map, the imprint of time cannot be hidden.
They show the context of historical development, allowing us to delve into the rich cultural heritage of this beautiful country and experience its vitality and the surging dynamics of its historical process.
Looking back, you may have noticed that every major historical change has driven a thick cloud of history, which is the mark of indifference on the slate and the proud proof of the progress of civilization.
Studying maps is like studying history.
As long as we seriously touch these traces of history, we will gain insight into the heartbeat of Russian civilization, perceive the core of its culture, and experience its earth-shaking historical upheaval.
In this way, we can truly understand Russia and go into the depths of their hearts.
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Footman, David，‘Nestor Makno’, St Antony’s Papers No.6: Soviet AffairsNo.2 (Oxford,1959)
Lobanov-Rostovsky, A..‘ Anglo - Russian Relations through the Centuries’,Russian Review, vol 7 (New York,1948)
Parkes, Harry,‘Report on the Russian Caravan Trade with China', Journal ofthe Royal Geographic Society, vol 25(London，1854)