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CHAPTER II
THE LESSON OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY[1]
I
RUSSIA is the classic land for geographers. Nowhere else have geographical conditions left a more indelible imprint. Nowhere else have men felt more deeply the all-pervading influences of physical surroundings, of climate and of race. There are some countries, like England, where man has conquered Nature, where Nature has become the benevolent and ministering servant of man. There are other countries, like Russia, where it is Nature that always threatens to enslave man. In few other countries have men been compelled to submit to that physical des-
- ↑ I do not in the least pretend to give in the present chapter an "explanation" of Modern Russia. I only desire to single out one particular factor which I think of the highest importance. Whilst not underrating the other factors, and least of all the religious factor, I think it desirable to draw attention to and to emphasize one essential element in the complex Russian problem which is being constantly ignored.
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