The Peasants of the St. Petersburg and Moscow Provinces after Abolition of Serfdom

The article examines the condition of peasantry in St. Petersburg and Moscow provinces 1850–1890 against background development 50 European Russia as a whole. aim is to test adequacy concept agrarian crisis post-reform village, which occurred result unfair reform 1860s predatory towards peasantry. criticizes dominant Soviet historiography, regarded controversial modern scholarship. first part assesses dynamics standard living based on traditionally used data: firstly, production factor sources income, degree sufficiency peasant incomes for normal life and, secondly, anthropometric indicators. analysis data preceded by methodological introduction, explains theoretical foundations using body length technique procedure processing primary information obtain an adequate picture. Special attention paid interpretation results analysis, poses difficulty classical historians. traditional indicators characterizing metropolitan capital leads conclusion: 1861–1890, peasants had improved, moreover, larger extent compared agreement economic enhances reliability conclusion about improvement welfare Russian during 30 years after reform.