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.
Tetritsqaro, 23 Aug 1863 – Peter and Paul Fortress, 28 Jan 1919
9 facts3 sources
23 Aug 1863
Born in Tetritsqaro
28 Jan 1919
Dies in Peter and Paul Fortress, aged 55
He lived through 6 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Tetritsqaro.
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 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
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.