On Saturday, May 10, Dr. Janet Hartley presented “The Volga: A History of Russia’s Greatest River” as a part of the Russian History Museum’s Second Saturday online lecture series.

Why does the Volga matter so much to Russian history?

In this online lecture, historian Janet Hartley explores the river’s huge role in shaping the country—from trade and empire-building to war, culture, and identity.

About the Speaker

Janet Hartley is Emeritus Professor of International History at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her main scholarly interests have been in the diplomatic, military, and social history of the Russian Empire in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Her books include: a biography of Alexander I in a ‘profiles in power’ series (Alexander I, 1994); a history of the structure, occupations, lifestyle and beliefs of society (A Social History of the Russian Empire 1650-1825, 1999), an analysis of the rise of Russia in the reign of Peter I through the experiences of the British envoy, later ambassador (Charles Whitworth: Diplomat in the Age of Peter the Great, 2002), and a study of the impact of war on state and society (Russia, 1762–1825: Military Power, the State, and the People, 2008). Her two most recent books have covered a longer chronological period and have focused on the extended empire: Siberia: A History of the People, 2014, and The Volga: A History of Russia’s Greatest River, 2021. The Volga was a Financial Times history book of the year and has been translated into Russian, Italian, and Korean.