How Did Geographical Problems Make It Hard for the Tsar to Rule the Country?
Size Problems:
In the beginning of the twentieth century, Russia was an enormous empire that spanned the two continents of Europe and Asia. The USA could fit into Russia over two and a half times and Britain nearly a hundred times.
The size of Russia made many things difficult, such as communication, transport and trade. These things were difficult because there were very few paved roads. Most roads were hard-packed earth that would turn to mud in heavy rain and during the winter, the people had to travel by horse-drawn sleds. At best, travel by roads were slow, and other times roads were impassable.
Although there had been an enormous growth in railways in the 1890s, by 1900 Russia still didn't have that much track. Most of these tracks were in European Russia. It took more than a week to get from the west to the pacific coast.
Transportation being difficult caused a lack of proper communication, which lead to weak trade. Proper communication was very important in ruling a country because without it, laws and orders couldn't be passed and carried out. Weak trade would also make it hard for the Tsar to rule the country because Russia's economy would become less and less stable.
Agricultural Problems:
Although much of Russia's land was very beautiful and dramatic, little of it could be used for farming. The main agricultural areas were in European Russia where most people lived. Besides the lack of fertile land, there were short growing seasons, it was drought prone and erosion accelerated via snow melting.
The reason an insufficient amount of agricultural land would make ruling Russia more difficult was that poor harvests would cause serious issues of starvation, which would then lead to outbreaks of protests, violence and rebellion by the famished people.
Political Problem:
Tsar Nicholas was an autocrat that believed he had a divine right to rule- that he was chosen by god. He could, and did do whatever he wanted without consulting anyone.
In the beginning of the twentieth century, Russia was an enormous empire that spanned the two continents of Europe and Asia. The USA could fit into Russia over two and a half times and Britain nearly a hundred times.
The size of Russia made many things difficult, such as communication, transport and trade. These things were difficult because there were very few paved roads. Most roads were hard-packed earth that would turn to mud in heavy rain and during the winter, the people had to travel by horse-drawn sleds. At best, travel by roads were slow, and other times roads were impassable.
Although there had been an enormous growth in railways in the 1890s, by 1900 Russia still didn't have that much track. Most of these tracks were in European Russia. It took more than a week to get from the west to the pacific coast.
Transportation being difficult caused a lack of proper communication, which lead to weak trade. Proper communication was very important in ruling a country because without it, laws and orders couldn't be passed and carried out. Weak trade would also make it hard for the Tsar to rule the country because Russia's economy would become less and less stable.
Agricultural Problems:
Although much of Russia's land was very beautiful and dramatic, little of it could be used for farming. The main agricultural areas were in European Russia where most people lived. Besides the lack of fertile land, there were short growing seasons, it was drought prone and erosion accelerated via snow melting.
The reason an insufficient amount of agricultural land would make ruling Russia more difficult was that poor harvests would cause serious issues of starvation, which would then lead to outbreaks of protests, violence and rebellion by the famished people.
Political Problem:
Tsar Nicholas was an autocrat that believed he had a divine right to rule- that he was chosen by god. He could, and did do whatever he wanted without consulting anyone.