In the news1861
Emancipation of the Serfs
The 1861 Emancipation Manifesto freed nearly 50 million serfs, granting them personal freedom but requiring them to redeem their land through long-term government loans.
Borjomi, 7 Oct 1869 – Alapayevsk, 18 Jul 1918
8 facts3 sources
7 Oct 1869
Born in Borjomi
18 Jul 1918
Dies in Alapayevsk, aged 48
He lived through 6 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Borjomi.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1861
The 1861 Emancipation Manifesto freed nearly 50 million serfs, granting them personal freedom but requiring them to redeem their land through long-term government loans.
What people wore
Uniform Men's Shirts and Diverse Women's Finery
Men's clothing remained relatively uniform, featuring a signature shirt with a side-fastening collar worn untucked and belted. In contrast, women's festive attire was highly diverse, often intricately decorated with embroidery, lace, ribbons, and precious metal threads.
Getting around
Railways revolutionized long-distance travel speed
The railway between St. Petersburg and Moscow, opened in 1851, reduced travel time between the two cities from four days by carriage to 22 hours by train.
In Europe · 1859–1871Italy is unified. Garibaldi, Cavour and Victor Emmanuel joined the Italian states into one kingdom, with Rome its capital from 1871.
In the news1864
The completion of the Tbilisi-Saint Petersburg telegraph line in 1864 allowed for rapid communication, enabling authorities to instantly receive intelligence and suppress rebellions in the Caucasus.
Music
Khorovod communal round dance
The khorovod was a popular communal round dance where up to a hundred people moved in a circle, often in a sunwise direction.
Daily life
Weekly Steam Baths and Water Access
The home had no plumbing or running water; families relied on pails of water and prioritized a weekly steam bath, often held in the stove itself or a dedicated bath-house. If a steam bath was unavailable, peasants would crawl into the heated oven to bathe.