The Landlord and the Peasant in Russia from the IX to the XIX Century. The Influence of Historical Events on Land Relations during the Times of Kievan Rus, the Mongol Period, and the Last 150 Years of Serfdom

Jerome Bloom, a professor at Princeton University, traces the history of the relationship between Russian landowners and the peasant community from the time of the Varangian invasion to the abolition of serfdom. In his monumental yet innovative work, Bloom describes types of agriculture and the peculiarities of economic activities across vast territories of the country, the types and structure of rural settlements and estate manors, the system of tax collection and levies. The author highlights not only agrarian issues but also the life of the people — both nobles and peasants, examines the causes of the emergence of serfdom, and concludes that the bondage of peasants determined the economic and social development of the state and shaped its political structure.