Cultural and political movements Georgia within the Russian Empire

1 cultural , political movements

1.1 romanticism
1.2 nationalism
1.3 socialism

cultural , political movements

incorporation russian empire changed georgia s orientation away middle east , towards europe members of intelligentsia began read new ideas west. @ same time, georgia shared many social problems rest of russia, , russian political movements emerged in 19th century looked extend following in georgia.

romanticism

a painting of tbilisi mikhail lermontov

in 1830s, romanticism began influence georgian literature, enjoyed revival famous poets such alexander chavchavadze, grigol orbeliani and, above all, nikoloz baratashvili. began explore georgia s past, seeking lost golden age used inspiration works. 1 of baratashvili s best-known poems, bedi kartlisa ( georgia s fate ), expresses deep ambivalence union russia in phrase pleasure nightingale receive honour if in cage?

georgia became theme in russian literature well. in 1829, russia s greatest poet alexander pushkin visited country , experience reflected in several of lyrics. younger contemporary, mikhail lermontov, exiled caucasus in 1840. region appears land of exotic adventure in lermontov s famous novel hero of our time , celebrated georgia s wild, mountainous landscape in long poem mtsyri, novice monk escapes strictness of religious discipline find freedom in nature.

nationalism

in mid-19th century, romantic patriotism gave way more overtly political national movement in georgia. began young generation of georgian students educated @ saint petersburg university, nicknamed tergdaleulnis (after terek river flows through georgia , russia). outstanding figure far writer ilia chavchavadze, influential georgian nationalist before 1905. sought improve position of georgians within system favoured russian-speakers , turned attention cultural matters, linguistic reform , study of folklore. chavchavadze became more , more conservative, seeing task preserve georgian traditions , ensure georgia remained rural society. so-called second generation (meore dasi) of georgian nationalists less conservative chavchavadze. focused more on growing cities in georgia, trying ensure urban georgians compete economically dominant armenians , russians. leading figure in movement niko nikoladze, attracted western liberal ideas. nikoladze saw georgia s future belonging caucasian federation include armenia , azerbaijan.

socialism

by 1870s, alongside these conservative , liberal nationalist trends, third, more radical political force had emerged in georgia. members focused on social problems , tended ally movements in rest of russia. first stirrings seen in attempt spread russian populism region, though populists had little practical effect. socialism, particularly marxism, proved far more influential in long run.

industrialisation had come georgia in late 19th century, particularly towns of tbilisi, batumi , kutaisi. had come factories, railways , new, urban working class. in 1890s, became focus of third generation (mesame dasi) of georgian intellectuals called social democrats, , included noe zhordania , filipp makharadze, had learned marxism elsewhere in russian empire. become leading force in georgian politics 1905 onwards. believed tsarist autocracy should overthrown , replaced democracy, create socialist society.