The 18th century played a major role in Russian history in terms of mobility. After Peter the Great's reforms, the nobility realized the importance of integration into the intellectual and cultural field of European states. One of the tools of this process was travelling. In the beginning, trips to Europe were organized exclusively at the will of the state, but by the middle of the 18th century they were arranged for educational or leisure purposes. Since such enterprise required large financial investments and social connections both in Russia and abroad, this practice became a visiting card of the wealthy aristocracy. Going on voyages, they thus emphasized their belonging to a privileged social group. The study offers a reconstruction of the experience of several Russian travelers who went to Europe for various purposes in the 18th century. The theoretical framework of the mobility turn allowed to deepen issues previously studied by other researchers. In addition to the geography of trips and the personalities of the travelers, this paper pays attention to the question of the perception and construction of space; the practices common for travel; and the material component of travel, which had a strong influence on the experience of movement. Moreover, voyage in the eyes of the traveler is not only a process of crossing borders, but also an attempt to establish a dialogue with another, different culture. Therefore, travel notes, diaries, and memoirs were chosen as the main source to understand mobility through the eyes of the individuals.

“Constructing Europe”: Cross-Border Mobility in Russian Noble Culture in the 18th century

VSEMIRNOV, MIKHAIL
2021/2022

Abstract

The 18th century played a major role in Russian history in terms of mobility. After Peter the Great's reforms, the nobility realized the importance of integration into the intellectual and cultural field of European states. One of the tools of this process was travelling. In the beginning, trips to Europe were organized exclusively at the will of the state, but by the middle of the 18th century they were arranged for educational or leisure purposes. Since such enterprise required large financial investments and social connections both in Russia and abroad, this practice became a visiting card of the wealthy aristocracy. Going on voyages, they thus emphasized their belonging to a privileged social group. The study offers a reconstruction of the experience of several Russian travelers who went to Europe for various purposes in the 18th century. The theoretical framework of the mobility turn allowed to deepen issues previously studied by other researchers. In addition to the geography of trips and the personalities of the travelers, this paper pays attention to the question of the perception and construction of space; the practices common for travel; and the material component of travel, which had a strong influence on the experience of movement. Moreover, voyage in the eyes of the traveler is not only a process of crossing borders, but also an attempt to establish a dialogue with another, different culture. Therefore, travel notes, diaries, and memoirs were chosen as the main source to understand mobility through the eyes of the individuals.
2021
“Constructing Europe”: Cross-Border Mobility in Russian Noble Culture in the 18th century
russian travelers
grand tour
mobility
travel culture
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12608/31378