Text 1: Historian Park argues that Catherine the Great's reign transformed Russia into a major European power. By annexing territory in Poland and the Black Sea region, modernizing administration, and patronizing the arts, Catherine pulled Russia decisively into the European state system.
Text 2: Historian Singh accepts Russia's rising European status under Catherine but argues that internal conditions remained starkly at odds with that status. Serfdom expanded; the Pugachev rebellion was crushed with extraordinary brutality; promised reforms went unrealized. Externally a European power, internally a society in tension — both, Singh argues, must be told.
Both authors would most likely agree that
- A
Catherine had no influence on Russian policy.
- B
Russia became a fully reformed liberal state under Catherine.
- Ccheck_circle
Russia's external standing rose during Catherine's reign.
- D
Russia did not gain territory under Catherine.
Explanation
Both accept Russia's rising European standing; they differ on internal conditions. A is shared. B, C, and D contradict both.