For millennia, the regions now known as Russia and Ukraine were home to enigmatic Bronze Age cultures, known for their burial mounds called kurgans. These lands were later settled by Slavic tribes and Vikings known as Varangians, who established the state of Kievan Rus. Under leaders like Oleg and Vladimir the Great, Kievan Rus became a powerful and sophisticated state. However, Mongol invasions in the 13th century fragmented the region, leading to centuries of vassalage under the Golden Horde.
The rise of Moscow under princes like Dmitri Donskoi and Ivan III eventually ended Mongol dominance, and Ivan IV, known as Ivan the Terrible, became the first Tsar of Russia. His reign saw both significant expansion and brutal repression. The Time of Troubles followed his death, ending with the establishment of the Romanov dynasty in 1613.
Under the Romanovs, Russia expanded territorially and developed into a major European power. Peter the Great's reforms modernized the state, while Catherine the Great's enlightened rule and cultural patronage left a lasting legacy. Their combined efforts transformed Russia into an influential empire on the world stage.
History of Russia - Rurik to Revolution
Revolution of Russia
Russia Revolution
History of Russia
Rurik to Revolution
Revolution
History
