Russia 1700's vs 1800's

[Stratego]

When I read and look upon Russia in the two centuries between the 1700's and 1800's, I can't help but divide it into three parts...

1700 the apogee (enlighted, colorful, cultural, progressive),

1780-1820 the peak

1821-1917 the decline (conservative, grey, industrial and backward).

Now how much of this gut feeling is true? Or is it just a misenterpretation of Russia which I have received somehow by watching documentaries, seeing pictures, paintings and reading on Russia's history.
I must also admit that the 18th century Russia is much more inviting to read than the 19th century Russia.

What are your thoughts?



Greets,
Stratego

[Emtos]

When I read and look upon Russia in the two centuries between the 1700's and 1800's, I can't help but divide it into three parts...

1700 the apogee (enlighted, colorful, cultural, progressive),

1780-1820 the peak

1821-1917 the decline (conservative, grey, industrial and backward).

Now how much of this gut feeling is true? Or is it just a misenterpretation of Russia which I have received somehow by watching documentaries, seeing pictures, paintings and reading on Russia's history.
I must also admit that the 18th century Russia is much more inviting to read than the 19th century Russia.

What are your thoughts?



Greets,
Stratego

Personnaly I will say that there was two periods of decline. The first from 1825 to 1855 and the second from 1894 to 1917. Between the two there was a period of reforms and advancement like the suppression of serfdom and the victory in the Russo-Turkish war.