The 200-year period of peace under the rule of the Russian Empire enabled the people to restore their strength. By the beginning of the 20th century the population of Estonia had increased up to one million people.

On the other hand, the unlimited control over local mattes in Estonia was executed not by the Russian Empire dierctly, but by the Baltic German nobility. The local peasants were still serfs without rights and their hard work while growing good-quality grain and potato for brewing vodka contributed the wealth of the lords. A number of new elegant manor houses were built by the German Baltic nobles, e.g. in Alatskivi, Sangaste and Taagepera. Among the Baltic German nobles were famous scientists (Count  Berg of Sangaste), geographers (academician Middendorff of Hellenurme),  generals (Barclay de Tolly of Jõgeveste).

The abolition of serfdom as a result of the agrarian reform declared the  peasants free  (in Estonia in 1816,   in Livonia in 1819) but the landlords retained  the ownership of all lands.

In the second half of the 19th century the new peasant regulations made it possible for local ambitious farmers to buy land for perpetuity. A network of schools developed in the country and some farm owners were able to send their children even to Tartu University. The first weekly newspapers started to appear - now in the North Estonian language, the Vanemuine singing and musical society was established and the first Singing Festival celibrated in Tartu to enlighten the Estonian people and give them a feeling of self esteem.

The former country-people of Estonia and Livonia were growing to  become Estonians, „great in spirit" to have the place in the cultural map of Europe.