Russias Fight for Identity Essay -- Geopolitics, History

In 1829, Petr Chaadeav began to write his Philosophical letters. He initiated Russia’s search for national identity. He was a major figure in the development of Russian intellectual history. The impact of the letter shook and changed the thinking of Russia. It argued that Russia was worthless and socially behind. Chaadeav was very harsh in his letter and appears to be bias. He made valid points but they are not entirely true. The evidence shows that Russia was indeed a bit imitative but they were not the only country in search for national identity. Though Chaadeav’s letter was very harsh, it gave Russia a sense of originality. Russia established their identity and is distinguished by their culture. Russia’s literature and art was big contribution to the world’s progress though they were seen to be unoriginal. Petr Chaadeav summarized his nation’s history as â€Å"a brutal barbarism to begin with, followed by an age of gross superstition, then by a ferocious and humiliating foreign domination. † He continued by sayong â€Å"we are alone in the world, we have given nothing to the world, we have taught it nothing. We have not added a single idea to the sum total of human ideas; we have not contributed to the progress of the human spirit. † The Letter electrified Russian creativity: Many called Chaadeav insane, but he was very intellectual. Chaadeav’s statement about law codes â€Å"No one has a fixed sphere of existence; there are no proper habits, no rules that govern anything † insisted that Russia’s law codes were non-existent. This is not entirely true. As stated in the previous paragraphs, the Table of Ranks is a prime example implemented by Peter the Great. Laws made by Catherine and the â€Å"Russkaia Pravda † are also great examples of law... ... country in history is truly original. Every country has taken ideas from another. Whether its religion, law codes, slaves, etc.no idea truly belongs to on country. Works Cited Kaiser, Daniel H., and Gary Marker. Reinterpreting Russian history: readings, 860-1860's. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994. Print. (tags: none | edit tags) Kaiser, Daniel H., and Gary Marker. "Society: The Lowere and Middling Estates." Reinterpreting Russian history: readings, 860-1860's. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994. 295. Print. (tags: none | edit tags) "Polnoe sobranie sochinenii i izbrannye pis'ma,." Russian Intellectual History: An Anthology.. Moscow: Nathaniel Knight , 1991. 90, 92-93. Print. (tags: none | edit tags) Turgenev, Ivan Sergeevich. Sketches from a hunter's album. Complete ed. London, England: Penguin Books, 1990. Print. (tags: none | edit tags)