Mighty Stream so Wide and Deep: Rivers and the Idea of Russian Empire

Presentation Date: Saturday, April 21, 2012

Location: Museum of Russian Icons

Taking a cue from the exhibition title (Pathways of Russia) we will examine the history of Russian rivers as represented in early modern maps. From the mighty Volga and Dnieper to the myriad streams and tributaries that watered the vast Russian space, rivers served as arteries of cultural and commercial exchange, channels of conquest, and objects of fascination. In fact, rivers played a key role in the way Russian space was both experienced and imagined. We will explore a series of river maps, including a number from this exhibit, as sources for understanding the Russian relationship with the natural world and the transformation of the tsar’s domain into one of the largest empires the world has ever seen.