Old Believer merchants and industrial development of the Kazan Governorate during the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries

The entrepreneurial activities pursued by the Old Believer merchants in the Kazan Governorate during the 19th and early 20th centuries are examined, with the focus on flour production and steelmaking as the two industrial sectors they specialized in by either renting state-owned enterprises or building new mills and factories. The most influential Old Believer merchant dynasties of that time involved the Okonishnikovs, Shamovs, Romanovs, etc. They all succeeded by effectively navigating their enterprises, using the latest equipment, and relying on support from their local communities. The working conditions at the enterprises managed by the Old Believers are described, as well as their efforts in providing healthcare support to workers by organizing sick funds and the problems they faced while trying to balance their religious values and entrepreneurial practices. It is concluded that, despite numerous challenges, including bureaucratic hurdles while trying to rent the enterprises, poor transportation, and the need to rely on local resources, the Old Believer merchants in the Kazan Governorate contributed significantly to the industrial modernization of the region, especially by developing the industrial sectors that were locally grounded and less dependent on transportation networks.