Noble Women in the Time of Catherine the Great
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
Ellensburg
Event Website
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source
Start Date
15-5-2019
End Date
15-5-2019
Abstract
Imperial Russia during the latter half of the 18th century was a time of change for all the people of Russia, including women. Under the rule of Catherine II, 1762-1796, noble women in Russia saw an increase in autonomy that before had been denied to them in the centuries after the fall of Kievan-Rus. While the gains would be considered minor when thought of by modern standards, for Russia the gains noble women made marked a change from the traditional roles noble women had been confined too. By using Catherine II's own writings and the works of women, such as Yekaterina Dashkova, who benefited from Catherine II's policies and the loosening of traditional roles, I hope to demonstrate the improvement of education that these women were able to take advantage of. These improvements including freedom from the terem, led to the opportunities of higher education in both the arts and sciences. I plan to address how the changes that Catherine II implemented during her reign changed the lives of the noble women that benefitted from her policies, institutions and societies that were created or patronized by Catherine II.
Recommended Citation
Colwell, Catherine, "Noble Women in the Time of Catherine the Great" (2019). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 39.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2019/Oralpres/39
Department/Program
History
Noble Women in the Time of Catherine the Great
Ellensburg
Imperial Russia during the latter half of the 18th century was a time of change for all the people of Russia, including women. Under the rule of Catherine II, 1762-1796, noble women in Russia saw an increase in autonomy that before had been denied to them in the centuries after the fall of Kievan-Rus. While the gains would be considered minor when thought of by modern standards, for Russia the gains noble women made marked a change from the traditional roles noble women had been confined too. By using Catherine II's own writings and the works of women, such as Yekaterina Dashkova, who benefited from Catherine II's policies and the loosening of traditional roles, I hope to demonstrate the improvement of education that these women were able to take advantage of. These improvements including freedom from the terem, led to the opportunities of higher education in both the arts and sciences. I plan to address how the changes that Catherine II implemented during her reign changed the lives of the noble women that benefitted from her policies, institutions and societies that were created or patronized by Catherine II.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2019/Oralpres/39
Faculty Mentor(s)
Roxanne Easley