Russian Colonization of Alaska

Baranov's Era, 1799–1818

Andrei Val’terovich Grinëv, Andrei Val'terovich Grinëv, Richard L. Bland

• Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781496222169
• eBook ISBN: 9781496222749
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: 19th Century History
• Index: History

In Russian Colonization of Alaska: Baranov's Era, 1799–1818, Andrei Val'terovich Grinëv examines the sociohistorical origins of the former Russian colonies in Alaska, or "Russian America." The formation of the Russian-American Company and the concentration in the hands of Aleksandr Baranov of all the power in south and southeast Alaska's Russian settlements marked a new stage in the history of Russian America. Expanding and strengthening Russian possessions in the New World as much as possible, Baranov acted in favor of his country before himself, in accordance with the principle "people for the empire, and not the empire for the people." Russian Colonization of Alaska is the first comprehensive study to analyze the origin and evolution of Russian colonization based on research into political economy, history, and ethnography. Grinëv's study elaborates the social, political, spiritual, ideological, personal, and psychological aspects of Russian America, accounting for the idiosyncrasies of the natural environment, competition from other North American empires, and challenges from Alaska Natives and individual colonial diplomats. Rather than being simply a continuation of Russians' colonization of Siberia, the colonization of Alaska was instead part of overarching Russian and global history.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• List of Illustrations
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• 1. Russian America at the Beginning of the Nineteenth Century
• 2. New Attempts at Russian Expansion on the Northwest Coast of America and Their Failure
• 3. Russian Colonization in Alaska in 1806–18 and the End of Baranov’s Era
• Conclusion
• Appendix 1
• Appendix 2
• Glossary
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Index