Tolstoy Leo

Leo Tolstoy lived through one of the most turbulent periods in Russian history. He was born in 1828 into an aristocratic family and grew up in a society dominated by Tsarist autocracy and the system of serfdom, under which millions of peasants were tied to the land and dependent on wealthy landowners. His experience during the Crimean War (1853–1856), where he witnessed the realities of war and death at close range, deeply influenced his later opposition to violence and the development of his moral thought.

A major turning point came in 1861, when Tsar Alexander II abolished serfdom. Although the reform freed millions of peasants, poverty, inequality, and social tensions remained severe. During the second half of the 19th century, Russia experienced rapid industrialization and urbanization, while new political and social movements increasingly began to challenge the autocratic regime. The government responded with censorship, repression, arrests, and exile.

The assassination of Alexander II in 1881 was followed by a period of even harsher political repression. By the beginning of the 20th century, Russia had entered a profound social and political crisis. The Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905) exposed the weaknesses of the Russian Empire, while the Revolution of 1905 led to strikes, demonstrations, and violent clashes.