In this fascinating experience, Klaus Richter explores the key moments in the rise, fall, and rebirth of the Russian Empire. In episode one, Klaus introduces the idea of empires and explores how Russia developed into a major power through expansion and control. He also highlights how these systems can be unstable, showing how historical legacies still shape modern Russia today. In episode two, Klaus explores what everyday life was like for ordinary people living under the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. He shows how individuals experienced major events like war, Stalinism, and collapse, highlighting both hardship and resilience. In episode three, Klaus focuses on the experiences of Jewish communities within the Russian Empire and Soviet Union, showing how difference was structured and controlled. He also explores how these historical experiences continue to shape identity, memory, and international relations today. In the final episode, Klaus recaps everything there is to know about the rise and fall of empires. He explains the role of an imperial adviser, before setting you a task that has you stepping into the shoes of an adviser to a Russian Tsar at the height of revolution!
The University of Birmingham was established in 1825 and was the first Russell Group university to receive a royal charter. As a member of the coveted Russell Group, the University of Birmingham is a prestigious university and considered a top representative of British education. As would be expected from such a high ranking institution, the university has produced many notable alumni including two UK prime ministers - Neville Chamberlain and Stanley Baldwin.
Klaus Richter is Professor of Central and Eastern European History at the University of Birmingham. He has published widely on the history of the Baltics, Poland, Germany, Russia, and Eastern Europe more broadly. A fundamental question he concerns himself with is what people expect from the state and how this changes in periods of crisis. Among other books, he is the author of the award winning ‘Fragmentation in East Central Europe: Poland and the Baltics, 1915-1929’ (2020).
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