Originally published in The Journal of Slavic Military Studies Carol Belkin Stevens has successfully transformed her doctoral dissertation on the politics of food supply in southern Russia into a book which concerns itself with the societal dislocations and new logistical demands brought on by the military revolution, especially during the Thirteen Years’ War (1654-67), and Muscovy’s assertive defensive expansionism to the south during the second half of the seventeenth century. The military revolution prompted Muscovy to create and organize infantry forces armed with handguns and artillery into what were called “new formations” (novyi stroi). Russia’s response to the gunpowder revolution was slow, but gathered momentum as it became apparent that her major threat was no longer the Tatar cavalry from the south … Read entire article »