Seams of borders and networks of cities: Russia in the late 18th century

Abstract

Using an extensive archival, memorial and historical material, the article describes the processes that took place in the late 18th century in the organization of the Russian Empire through the example of the changes in the territorial organization of the Tambov Province. The author analyzes the principles underlying these changes, as well as the boundaries of settlement territories and, in particular, cities. Russian and Western European cities are compared and different reasons for their emergence and the political motives of their changes are emphasized.