In Russian society, the power relations were hierarchical, with the Tsar and the nobility at the top, followed by the middle class and then the peasants at the bottom. The Tsar held absolute power and was seen as a divine figure, with the nobility serving as the main source of political and administrative power. The middle class consisted of merchants, traders, and professionals, while the peasants made up the majority of the population and were considered property of the Tsarist state. Despite the existence of serfdom, some members of the peasantry were able to rise up and improve their social and economic standing through military service, education, or entrepreneurship