The Role of Agriculture in the Russian Empire

To understand Russia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it is vital to understand the agrarian nature of the empire. Despite attempts at reform and programs of industrialization, agriculture still remained by far the largest sector of the Russian economy. There was a small but expanding industrial sector which was leading to an emerging urban working class as peasants migrated to the cities. The government did not allow for the formation of labor unions, and organizers and leaders of strikes were often punished.