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.
Saint Petersburg, 22 Jan 1864 – Antibes, 17 Jan 1931
8 facts3 sources
22 Jan 1864
Born in Saint Petersburg
1892–1898
4 children are born
17 Jan 1931
Dies in Antibes, aged 66
He lived through 8 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Saint Petersburg.
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
Peasant Footwear and Versatile Fur Coats
Peasants frequently wore bast shoes made from tree bark, but wealthier individuals wore leather boots for important occasions. In winter, both rich and poor favored sheepskin coats, which were often worn year-round and served multiple roles, including as bedding.
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 news1860
Starting in 1860, petroleum lamps replaced candles and tallow lights in German households, significantly improving home lighting.
Music
Improvised percussion for fast dances
During fast dances called pliaska, performers sometimes used improvised percussion instruments like wooden spoons, a metal pot, or even a scythe.
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.