Economical Situation of Bessarabia before the Crimean War

Unpublished documents and academic research prove that the Bessarabian economy before the Crimean War was aimed to satisfy necessities of the Russian Empire. In agriculture the most important branches were cultivation of cereals, gardening, horticulture and cattle breeding. These branches of agriculture had to supply Russian armies with farm products and transport. Industrial plants and factories were built, and their production was also of importance for the Russian military. The roads and bridges had both commercial and strategic importance. They permitted the troops to move quickly at the time of general mobilization. All this explains the tendency of the Russian administration to repair and maintain roads and bridges, and to construct the new ones. The favourable situations in the economy of the area convinced the Russian Empire that it should rely on the economical potential of the region for the supply of the Russian troops during the Crimean War.