By Honor Bound: State and Society in Early Modern Russia by Nancy Shields Kollmann

By Honor Bound delves into the culture of honor that permeated Russian society during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Nancy Shields Kollmann examines the complex and stylized codes that defined this culture, illustrating how they were used to construct identity, enforce social norms, and address conflicts. Through a rich collection of legal transcripts, Kollmann reveals the conservative role of honor in society and the agency of individuals, both elite and peasant, in employing these codes to navigate their relationships and interactions with the state./n/nKollmann's work challenges traditional Russian historiography by highlighting the surprising degree of local autonomy tolerated by the grand princes and tsars. By situating Muscovite state and society within the broader context of medieval and early modern Europe, she exposes striking similarities that blur long-standing distinctions between Russian and European history. This comparative approach enhances our understanding of state-building and social dynamics in premodern Europe.

Reviews

The Journal of Modern History · 2000-01-01

intriguing 3.50

The book presents a unique perspective on early modern Russia by focusing on the concept of honor. The reviewer appreciates the depth of analysis but finds the comparison with other historical approaches less compelling.

The reviewer highlights that the book offers a fresh lens through which to view early modern Russia, emphasizing the role of honor in shaping state and society. They commend the author's thorough exploration of this theme, which provides valuable insights into the period. However, the reviewer finds the comparison with other historical approaches less convincing, suggesting that the book's strength lies in its focused analysis rather than its broader historical context.

Quick quotes

It would be hard to imagine two more dissimilar approaches to the history of the ideas and institutions of property than those represented by the books.

Kollmann's survey ends in the mid-nineteenth century, with laws in defence of honour still existing for all, though by then peasants were dealt with separately.

Kollmann makes her case for the existence of social stability in early modern Russia more effectively for the micro- than for the macrolevel when she argues.

Slavic Review · P Dukes · 2000-01-01

great 4.00

The book challenges traditional views on Muscovy and Russian history, offering a nuanced understanding of the period. The reviewer praises the author's boldness in revisiting accepted tenets.

P Dukes notes that the book boldly challenges many accepted tenets about Muscovy and Russian history. They appreciate the author's efforts to provide a more nuanced understanding of the period, particularly in the way it revisits and challenges traditional views. The reviewer finds the book's exploration of local autonomy and the role of honor in society particularly compelling, offering a fresh perspective on early modern Russia.

Quick quotes

This book challenges many accepted tenets, including the type of state erected in Muscovy, the basic periodization of Russian history, and the emergence of new social relations.

Kollmann demonstrates that the grand princes—and later the tsars—tolerated a surprising degree of local autonomy throughout their rapidly expanding realm.

Through the prism of honor, Kollmann examines the interaction of the Russian state and its people in regulating social relations and defining an individual's status.

The Russian Review · H Chapman · 2000-01-01

good 3.00

The book provides a detailed examination of honor in early modern Russia, but the reviewer finds the focus on microlevel analysis somewhat limiting. They appreciate the depth of research but suggest a broader context would enhance the book's impact.

H Chapman acknowledges the book's detailed examination of honor in early modern Russia, praising the depth of research and the author's ability to shed light on social relations and individual status. However, they find the focus on microlevel analysis somewhat limiting and suggest that a broader context could enhance the book's overall impact. The reviewer appreciates the author's contributions but feels that a more comprehensive approach would make the book even more compelling.

Quick quotes

Kollmann's survey ends in the mid-nineteenth century, with laws in defence of honour still existing for all, though by then peasants were dealt with separately.

Kollmann makes her case for the existence of social stability in early modern Russia more effectively for the micro- than for the macrolevel when she argues.

Through the prism of honor, Kollmann examines the interaction of the Russian state and its people in regulating social relations and defining an individual's status.

Appears in Lists

The 100 Best Russian History Books