What you must do in this unit
- Read the textbook chapter 23.
- Read a short excerpt from Prince Adam Czartoryski about Alexander I's intent to reform Russia.
- Check the remarks by Professor Blois and Professor Evans on Alexander I and watch the short video.
- If you have not done so already, now would be a good time to review my interactive lecture on Russian geography.
- Study the Questions to Consider and the Key Terms for the Unit.
- Take the midterm exam.
What you can do in this unit
- Read my note about Tolstoi's idea about history presented in his great novel, War and Peace, which is about the 1812 military campaign.
- Read some comments by Robinson and Beard about the Holy Alliance, 1815
- Read chapter 19 and chapter 20 from Mary Platt Parmele (1843-1911) A Short History of Russia (1907, 4th edition). These are short chapters, and this is optional reading.
Some videos that you can watch for this unit
- Napoleon and Russia
- French Invasion of Russia (Khan Academy)
- Heroes and History: Lessons for Leadership from Tolstoy's War and Peace
- For extra credit please suggest to your instructor a relevant video for this unit of the course. Send the title of the video, the URL and a brief explanation of why you find the video interesting and applicable to the material that is being studied in this unit.
Extra Credit Options
- For up to 25 points of extra credit, watch Waterloo (1970) and write a one-page paper assessing the film's historical accuracy. Also let me know whether you enjoyed the film.
- For up to 25 points of extra credit, read Lev Tolstoi, War and Peace (1863-69) and write a one-page paper explaining why you read the entire book. Also, let me know your favorite scene and why.
- For up to 25 points of extra credit, read Marc Raeff, Michael Speransky, Statesman of Imperial Russia, 1772-1839 (1957) and write a one-page paper that explains why Speranskii was unable to enact substantial political reform under Alexander I.
- For up to 25 points of extra credit, read Roger Parkinson, The Fox of the North: The Life of Kutuzov, General of War and Peace (1976) and write a one-page paper that briefly highlights some of the general's life and that discusses his strategy in the 1812 campaign.
- For up to 10 points of extra credit, write a paragraph in which you compare and contrast the start of Napoleon's invasion of Russia with its finish.
Unit Learning Objectives
- Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to (1) demonstrate a knowledge of the important historical developments of the reign of Tsar Aleksandr I (2) explain some of the key events in the wars between Russian and Napoleon and (3) analyze a historical primary source.