A Short History of Russia: How to Understand the World's Most Complex Nation

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Peter the Great (Peter I, 1672–1725) brought centralized autocracy into Russia and played a major role in bringing his country into the European state system. [90] Russia was now the largest country in the world, stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean. The vast majority of the land was unoccupied, and travel was slow. Much of its expansion had taken place in the 17th century, culminating in the first Russian settlement of the Pacific in the mid-17th century, the reconquest of Kiev, and the pacification of the Siberian tribes. [91] However, a population of only 14 million was stretched across this vast landscape. With a short growing season, grain yields trailed behind those in the West and potato farming was not yet widespread. As a result, the great majority of the population workforce was occupied with agriculture. Russia remained isolated from the sea trade and its internal trade, communication and manufacturing were seasonally dependent. [92]

The invading Mongols accelerated the fragmentation of the Rus'. In 1223, the disunited southern princes faced a Mongol raiding party at the Kalka River and were soundly defeated. [46] In 1237–1238 the Mongols burnt down the city of Vladimir (4 February 1238) [47] and other major cities of northeast Russia, routed the Russians at the Sit' River, [48] and then moved west into Poland and Hungary. By then they had conquered most of the Russian principalities. [49] Only the Novgorod Republic escaped occupation and continued to flourish in the orbit of the Hanseatic League. [50] En la época de la unión Soviética se narra todo el estancamiento de este país visto desde la larga duración, no se abordan muchos aspectos positivos de la unión Soviética, esta parte está más centrada en mirar cómo todo llevo al colapso Soviético de 1991, en el que Yelstin igual profundizó la crisis de la naciente Rusia con la terapia de choque. Further information: Scythia, Bosporan Kingdom, Ancient Greek colonies, Goths, Huns, Turkic migration, Khazaria, and History of Siberia Stele with two Hellenistic soldiers of the Bosporan Kingdom; from Taman Peninsula (Yubileynoe), southern Russia, 3rd quarter of the 4th century BC; marble, Pushkin Museum

Alexander was succeeded by his son Nicholas II (1894–1918). The Industrial Revolution, which began to exert a significant influence in Russia, was meanwhile creating forces that would finally overthrow the tsar. Politically, these opposition forces organized into three competing parties: The liberal elements among the industrial capitalists and nobility, who wanted peaceful social reform and a constitutional monarchy, founded the Constitutional Democratic party or Kadets in 1905. Followers of the Narodnik tradition established the Socialist-Revolutionary Party or Esers in 1901, advocating the distribution of land among the peasants who worked it. A third radical group founded the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party or RSDLP in 1898; this party was the primary exponent of Marxism in Russia. Gathering their support from the radical intellectuals and the urban working class, they advocated complete social, economic and political revolution. [155] After the Nihilists failed to convert the aristocracy and landed gentry to the cause of reform, they turned to the peasants. [148] Their campaign became known as the Narodnk ("Populist") movement. It was based on the belief that the common people had the wisdom and peaceful ability to lead the nation. [149]

the formation of a nation through its early legends, including Ivan the Terrible and Catherine the GreatPeter the Great died in 1725, leaving an unsettled succession, but Russia had become a great power by the end of his reign. Peter I was succeeded by his second wife, Catherine I (1725–1727), who was merely a figurehead for a powerful group of high officials, then by his minor grandson, Peter II (1727–1730), then by his niece, Anna (1730–1740), daughter of Tsar Ivan V. The heir to Anna was soon deposed in a coup and Elizabeth, daughter of Peter I, ruled from 1741 to 1762. During her reign, Russia took part in the Seven Years' War. The early 19th century is the time when Russian literature becomes an independent and very striking phenomenon. Russia’s epic story told in an accessible, lively and short form, using the country's fascinating history to help us understand its actions today and what the future might hold