Building and accomplishment of cities in the cultural policy of the government of Anna Ioannovna

Abstract

The article is devoted to one of the aspects of the cultural policy of the government of Anna Ioannovna – the construction and accomplishment of the infrastructure of Russian cities. The author examines the legislative documentation devoted to various aspects of the issue, such as repair of buildings, decoration of river banks, street lighting, the construction of hydraulic engineering facilities and so on. In addition to stone and wooden construction, the construction of hydrotechnical facilities, the author also focuses on more private government orders, concerning “the measure and width of streets”, covering stone houses with iron and tiles, etc. Most of the legislative documents of the 1730s–1740s are devoted to the capitals, especially St. Petersburg. The “old capital”, Moscow was not being rebuilt as actively as St. Petersburg, but a lot of work was also carried out here (new lighting methods were introduced etc.) The authorities did not ignore the province. New towns appeared on the outskirts – they served not only as fortresses, but also became centers of interaction with the local population. In an effort to minimize the expenses of the treasury, the government shifted part of the costs to residents who were being included in the administrative and economic life of cities.