The epochal reign of Peter I, as well as his numerous reforms aimed at Europeanization and the eradication of medieval remnants in everyday life and politics, had a huge impact on the way of life of all the estates of the empire.
Various innovations that were actively introduced into everyday life and customs of Russians in the 18th century gave a strong impetus to the transformation of Russia into an enlightened European state.
Reforms of Peter I
Peter I, like Catherine II, who succeeded him on the throne, considered his main task to introduce women to secular life and accustom the upper classes of Russian society to the rules of etiquette. For this, special instructions and guidelines were created; young nobles learned the rules of court etiquette and went to study in Western countries, from where they returned inspired by the desire to make the people of Russia enlightened and more modern. Most of the changes affected social life,the family way of life remained unchanged - the head of the family was a man, the rest of the family were obliged to obey him.
The life and customs of the 18th century in Russia entered into a sharp confrontation with innovations, because the flourishing absolutism, as well as feudal-serfdom relations, did not allow painlessly and quickly to translate plans for Europeanization into reality. In addition, there was a clear contrast between the lives of we althy estates and serfs.
Court life in the 18th century
The life and customs of the royal court in the second half of the 18th century were distinguished by unprecedented luxury, which surprised even foreigners. The influence of Western trends was increasingly felt: in Moscow and St. Petersburg, educators-tutors, hairdressers, milliners appeared; French became compulsory; a special fashion was introduced for ladies who came to court.
The innovations that appeared in Paris were necessarily adopted by the Russian nobility. Court etiquette was like a theatrical performance - ceremonial bows and curtsies created a sharp sense of pretense.
Over time, theater has become very popular. During this period, the first Russian playwrights appeared (Dmitrievsky, Sumarokov).
Interest in French literature is growing. Representatives of the aristocracy pay more and more attention to education and the development of a multifaceted personality - this is becoming a kind of sign of good taste.
In the 30s - 40s of the XVIII century,during the reign of Anna Ioannovna, one of the popular entertainments, in addition to chess and checkers, was playing cards, which was previously considered indecent.
Life and customs of the 18th century in Russia: the life of the nobles
The population of the Russian Empire consisted of several classes.
The nobles of large cities, especially St. Petersburg and Moscow, were in the most advantageous position: material well-being and a high position in society allowed them to lead an idle lifestyle, devoting all their time to organizing and attending secular receptions.
Focused on homes heavily influenced by Western traditions.
The properties of the aristocracy were distinguished by luxury and sophistication: large halls tastefully furnished with European furniture, huge chandeliers with candles, rich libraries with books by Western authors - all this was supposed to show a sense of taste and become a confirmation of the nobility of the family. The spacious rooms of the houses allowed the owners to arrange crowded balls and social receptions.
The role of education in the 18th century
Life and customs of the second half of the 18th century were even more closely connected with the influence of Western culture on Russia: aristocratic salons became fashionable, where disputes about politics, art, literature were in full swing, debates were held on philosophical topics. The French language gained great popularity, which the children of the nobility were taught from childhood by specially hired foreign teachers. Upon reaching the age of 15 - 17, adolescents were sent to closed educational institutions:boys were taught military strategy here, girls - the rules of good manners, the ability to play various musical instruments, the basics of family life.
Europeanization of life and foundations of the urban population was of great importance for the development of the whole country. Innovations in art, architecture, food, clothing quickly took root in the homes of the nobility. Intertwined with old Russian habits and traditions, they determined the life and customs of the 18th century in Russia.
At the same time, innovations did not spread throughout the country, but covered only its most developed regions, once again emphasizing the gap between the we althy and the poor.
The life of the provincial nobles
Unlike the capital's nobles, the representatives of the provincial nobility lived more modestly, although they tried with all their might to resemble a more prosperous aristocracy. Sometimes such a desire from the side looked rather caricatured. If the metropolitan nobility lived at the expense of their vast possessions and thousands of serfs working on them, then the families of provincial cities and villages received the main income from taxing peasants and income from their small farms. The noble estate was similar to the houses of the capital's nobility, but with a significant difference - numerous outbuildings were located next to the house.
The level of education of the provincial nobles was very low, training was mainly limited to the basics of grammar and arithmetic. The men spent their leisure time hunting, and the women gossiped about courtlife and fashion, without having a reliable idea about it.
The owners of rural estates were closely associated with the peasants, who served as workers and servants in their homes. Therefore, the rural nobility was much closer to the common people than the metropolitan aristocrats. In addition, poorly educated nobles, as well as peasants, often found themselves far from the innovations introduced, and if they tried to keep up with fashion, it turned out to be more comical than elegant.
Peasants: life and customs of the 18th century in Russia
The lowest class of the Russian Empire, the serfs, had the hardest time of all.
Working six days a week for the landowner did not leave the peasant time to arrange his daily life. They had to cultivate their own patches of land on holidays and weekends, because the families of the peasants had many children, and they had to be fed somehow. The simple life of the peasants is also connected with constant employment and lack of free time and money: wooden huts, rough interiors, meager food and simple clothes. However, all this did not prevent them from inventing entertainment: on big holidays, mass games were organized, round dances were held, songs were sung.
Children of peasants, without receiving any education, repeated the fate of their parents, also becoming courtyards and servants at noble estates.
The influence of the West on the development of Russia
Life and customs of the Russian people at the end of the 18th century, for the most part, were under the complete influencetrends in the Western world. Despite the stability and ossification of old Russian traditions, the trends of developed countries gradually entered the life of the population of the Russian Empire, making its prosperous part more educated and literate. This fact is confirmed by the appearance of various institutions, in the service of which people already received a certain level of education (for example, city hospitals) consisted.
Cultural development and the gradual Europeanization of the population quite clearly testify to the history of Russia. Life and customs in the 18th century, which were modified due to the policy of education of Peter I, marked the beginning of the global cultural development of Russia and its people.
