history

Peter I received industry from the Moscow state, which was in its infancy. Few minerals, including gold and silver, were mined. Metals - iron, copper, tin - were imported from Europe. The main exports were flax, hemp and furs.

Under Peter, the development of geological exploration begins, thanks to which metal ore deposits are found in the Urals. The mining of gold and silver begins. The first channels were dug. Manufactories are founded for the needs of the army (the production of guns, gunpowder, sails, cloth, shoes). Large factories are being set up in the Urals, in the Olonets Territory, Tula, and Sestroretsk. Import rejection begins.

Benefits are assigned to industry: interest-free loans from the treasury, exemption from recruitment duty, jurisdiction only of the Manufactory Collegium, etc. A policy of protectionism is being pursued. Monopolies were often set up with the aim of getting the enterprise on its feet. Masters from abroad are invited for training, since 1711 craft schools have appeared to train workers. Between 1700 and 1725, 200 manufactories were founded. From 1712, the export of weapons, raw hides, stockings, and needles was stopped, and the export of butter was encouraged. The export of goods from Russia on Russian ships is also encouraged, with a 3-fold reduction in duties. A duty (up to 40%) is introduced on imports.

Since 1718, soldiers' uniforms have been sewn only from Russian cloth; since 1723, all office work was ordered to be done only on Russian-made paper.

The 18th century was characterized by problems with the development of industry due to the attachment of the peasantry to the land: in a country where in most provinces the bulk of the population was serfs, there was simply no one to work at manufactories. At first, this problem was solved by attributing serfs to the factories. Since 1741, a 14-hour working day has been established.

Elizaveta Petrovna cancels customs duties, but cultivates monopolies, as a result of which the quality of products decreases. Catherine II abolishes monopolies, dissolves the Manufacture College with its separate jurisdiction. Factories with possessory serfs are prohibited from changing and reducing production, transferring workers to other factories, etc. d.