“Understanding Russia: A Cultural History” S:1 E:10 Alexander II, Nihilists, and Assassins

S:1 E:10 Alexander II, Nihilists, and Assassins Focus on the reign of Alexander II, who ruled Russia from 1855 to 1881. Central to this lecture are three questions: Why did this promising reign end so violently? Did Alexander II shape developments in literature and culture? How could Russia’s last great tsar inaugurate a violent confrontation between the state and its people?