International aspects of the road tradition (Russia, XVII–XIX centuries)

Abstract

Introduction. Russian government in the 17th–19th centuries had to maintain control over vast and sparsely populated territories. Modern historians, specialists in Russia, should take into account its specifics and specifically the state of the roads along which horse-drawn vehicles were moving. Investigating the road infrastructure of Russia one can imagine the conditions and circumstances in which the state and society functioned.Materials and methods. This paper explores one of the aspects of the so-called road tradition of Russia – the manifestation of international relations in the context of road traffic. The study of the road tradition is linked to the anthropological approach that historians increasingly use in their works. The paper is based on a variety of narrative sources including fiction and journalistic texts.Results. Russia is not only the largest country in the world, but also one of the most multi-ethnic. A road often became the place where cultural and historical differences were revealed, as well as inter-confessional and inter-ethnic relations. Different types of international relations are studying in this paper: joking; attention to "alien"; interaction of local people with foreigners in the Russian territory; explicit conflicts.Conclusion. It is concluded that a road was dangerous and unpredictable place, and therefore there were often quarrels and conflicts during the traffic. The causes of these quarrels and conflicts have been brewing for a long time, and the reasons could be insignificant.

Keywords

• road tradition of russia
• narrative sources on russian history
• international relations
• foreigners in russia
• travel
• vehicles