Quote Originally Posted by DanielM View Post
Russia never passed through the experiences of the Renaissance.
Some shadow of Renaissance may have visited Russia in what they call the Golden Age (which gave rise to world famous literature, including Dostoevsky); it's not the European Renaissance in its pure sense, of course. With all that in mind, serfdom was abolished in 1861 only (cf, underground rail opened in London in 1863), tsar who abolished it was killed 20 years later (in the 5th attempt), reaction followed, turn of the century, 1905, 1917... Seems like no time for middle class to appear.