Russian Imperial Bureaucracy and Crimean Past: Transformation of Memory (Late 18th – Early 19th Century)

• In Event: Memory Transformation in Crimea: Historical Perception

Abstract

The annexation of Crimea by the Russian Empire required a shift in its perception, particularly among the imperial elite. Using memoirs, correspondence, and travelogues, my presentation explores how officials contributed to this transformation - from viewing Crimea as a land of “hostile Tatars” with a “climate unsuitable for the Russian man” to the “cradle of Orthodoxy,” a “paradise on earth,” and an "exotic Russian Orient". Special attention will be given to those officials who served in the region and witnessed firsthand the contrast between emerging imperial myths and the actual conditions on the ground.

Author

• Oleksandr Kravchuk, U of Bristol (UK)