Reinventing Russia's Middle Ages: Putin's Strategy for Reshaping Society, Drawing Inspiration from Ivan the Terrible
Heading into September, students in Russian middle and high schools will be introduced to a fresh textbook entitled "My Family." This new book is part of a course called "Family Studies," first rolled out in the 2024-2025 academic year with the intention of instilling "traditional moral values" and addressing the country's demographic issues.
But this guide for modern living borrows from some questionable sources. One such resource is the 16th-century "Domostroi," a compilation of rules for maintaining a patriarchal household authored by Sylvester, a monk-tutor to Czar Ivan the Terrible. Some teachings from "Domostroi" may seem outdated by today's standards. For instance, it espouses that a father has the right to enforce his will, even with physical force, on his family - a right that would once have included relatives and slaves, in accordance with Orthodox dogmas.
Softerquotations from Domostroi include "Husbands should teach their wives with love and exemplary instruction." Another reads, "Wives ask their husbands about strict order, how to save their souls, please God and their husbands, arrange their home well, and submit to their husbands in all matters; and what the husband orders, they should agree with love and carry out according to his commands."
The use of "Domostroi" in this textbook might remind readers of the current Russian government's approach to family violence. In 2017, a law was passed that removed nonaggravated "battery of close persons" from the list of criminal offenses. This tenuous connection between the textbook and real-world events fits a broader pattern. Scholars have noted that references to the Russian Middle Ages are frequently part of the Kremlin's broader politics, often referred to as "political neomedievalism."
President Vladimir Putin's administration has notably prioritized initiatives that model modern Russia after medieval Russia, uniting the long-held dreams of the Russian far-right populace with broader ambitions for imperial expansion. In 2025 alone, a nongovernmental organization in the Vologda region named "The Oprichnina" was established. The name evokes the first brutal wave of state terror in Russian history, as the oprichniks carried out horrific crimes under Ivan the Terrible's direction between 1565 and 1572.
Over the years, historical revisionism has sought to rehabilitate Ivan the Terrible in Russian culture. More recently, the Kremlin and its supporters have depicted Ivan as a great statesman, a devout Russian Orthodox Christian, and the foundation of the Russian Empire. This reevaluation of Ivan's legacy has garnered support from various factions within Russian society. Indeed, Ivan is now commonly regarded as a model for Russian rulers, comparable to the prestige once held by Josef Stalin.
With the publication of "My Family," this quest to romanticize the Middle Ages continues, possibly aiming to reinforce traditional values, maintain hierarchies within families, and shape social and political attitudes among young Russians. This textbook's content raises awareness of the Kremlin's neomedieval agenda and the role it plays in justifying this revived approach to family violence.
- The new textbook, "My Family," introduces students to a mixture of modern living and traditional values, incorporating teachings from the 16th-century "Domostroi" authored by a monk-tutor to Czar Ivan the Terrible.
- The "Domostroi," a guide for maintaining a patriarchal household, appears questionable in today's standards, promoting the father's right to enact physical force on his family.
- Curiously, the textbook's use of "Domostroi" echoes a pattern observed in Russia's broader politics, often referred to as "political neomedievalism."
- In 2017, a law was passed in Russia that decriminalized nonaggravated "battery of close persons," sparking debates about family violence and the government's approach.
- The current Russian administration, led by President Vladimir Putin, has been noted for its initiatives that seek to model modern Russia after the Middle Ages as part of its imperial expansion.
- Scholars have observed that references to the Russian Middle Ages are frequently used in the Kremlin's politics, providing a foundation for the revival of medieval practices.
- In 2025, a nongovernmental organization named "The Oprichnina" was established in the Vologda region, evoking the brutal state terror of the oprichniks under Ivan the Terrible.
- Historical revisionism has been employed to rehabilitate Ivan the Terrible in Russian culture, with the Kremlin and its supporters depicting him as a great statesman and the foundation of the Russian Empire.
- The reevaluation of Ivan's legacy has gained support from various factions within Russian society, with Ivan now being considered a model for Russian rulers, similar to the prestige once held by Josef Stalin.
- The publication of "My Family" continues the Kremlin's quest to romanticize the Middle Ages, potentially aiming to instill traditional values, maintain hierarchies within families, and shape political attitudes among young Russians, raising awareness of the neomedieval agenda and its impact on family violence policy and legislation.
