The History of Russia: A Captivating Guide to Russian History – Covering Vladimir Putin, Kyiv, Crimea, Modern History, and more

By David Barnett

Step into a riveting exploration of Russia and witness its incredible cultural legacy.

 

As the home of famous thinkers, artists, poets, and military strategists throughout the ages, Russia holds a special place in our collective history. This biography explores their legacy, recounting the glorious triumphs and heart wrenching tragedies of this giant on the world stage. Inside, you'll be taken on an unparalleled journey to witness Russia's past, retracing its steps from ancient times to the modern day. You'll glimpse into the unique and fascinating culture of the Russian people, their turbulent history throughout medieval times and the horrors of the 20th century, and their meteoric rise to become leaders on a global scale.

 

Told with a wealth of engaging insights, this history book dispels the mysteries surrounding the famous Motherland, providing a succinct account of Russia's role in human civilization. From the towering Ural mountains to the depths of the Black Sea and the frozen Siberian wastes, The History of Russia paints a compelling picture of a nation with grit, determination, and perseverance like no other. It also provides key insights to help readers understand pressing modern issues and Russia's shaky relationship with Ukraine and the United States.

 

As a must-read for students, history fans, and anybody who wants to uncover the incredible story behind Russia, this book will give you a newfound appreciation for the Russian people, shedding light on their historical trials.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LZ Publishing
• Release date: Mar 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201476199

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

The history of humankind can be interpreted through its various dominant civilizations. It started in the womb of our species, Africa, and the hot deserts of the Middle East. Sumerians were the first to rise and fall. Then it spread into Southern Asia, with the period dominated by the people of the Indus Valley. Perhaps the most infamous was the long, glorious reign of the Ancient Egyptians. The often unheralded Far Eastern empires of China followed. But then, the axis of power in the world shifted westward.

Starting with the Ancient Greeks and Romans, Western civilizations spread across the globe. Be it their Latin-based languages, diets, clothing, music, or customs, the world we know is a result of Western dominance. That was despite them not being the most populous or resource-rich areas on the planet. All it would take was for the East to come together for the balance of power to even out. One nation above all others on that side of the Earth was able to take on that responsibility, Russia.

Russia is the largest country in the world. At over seventeen million square kilometers, it dwarfs giants like Canada, the United States, and China. The ninth most populous nation in the world, it houses over one hundred and forty million people. One of the largest producers of oil and valuable metals, it has everything it needs to be a titan on the world stage.

The history of Russia, like all nations, is long and difficult. It’s filled with triumph and tragedy. There’s been a wide array of leaders sitting at the head of the country’s massive table. Russians have seen inspired leaderships and more than its fair share of power-hungry, vicious despots. Madness had been behind the wheel as well as enlightenment.

As impressive as the accomplishments of Western civilization are, it was one in the East that put the first person in space. A Russian invented the radio. There wouldn’t be cars without the Russian invention of synthetic rubber. Its complex population has produced some of history’s greatest poets, philosophers, scientists, authors, and artists.

The following is a brief history of a complicated slice of the planet. It would be impossible to fairly depict a nation’s history within the confines of any one book. With that said, this is a summary of the most important years and events that defined the country and its impact on the rest of the world.

ANCIENT HISTORY

Russia was originally populated by a people known as Cimmerians. Hailing from the grasslands between the Caspian and the Black Sea, these ancient people were Indo-European in descent, pushed eastward in search of land. They were followed up by the more famous Scythians, who turned the territory into more of a military state.

SCYTHIANS AND SARMATIANS

Nomads, originally hailing from modern-day Iran, the Scythians settled in what is known now as Crimea. Situated along the Black Sea’s northern coast, Crimea was an ideal location to build an empire.

Crimea is a peninsula engulfed by the Black Sea. To its west is modern Romania. To its south, Turkey. Today, as it was back in the day of the Scythians, its location made it a trading hub in that region of the world. With its warm and sunny weather, it could host booming agriculture all year round and provide a respite from some of the harsher climates of modern-day Russia.

Scythians became widely known for their martial prowess. More than anything, contemporaries were wary of and even feared their fearsome calvary. Their people were among the first civilizations to fully embrace horsemanship. These formidable warriors were one of many reasons they were able to defeat the Cimmerians and formulate an empire that stretched from the Black Sea to the Middle East.

Hit-and-run tactics formed the backbone of the Scythian military. On horseback, their speed allowed them to take opponents unawares and unprepared. One way to think of it was an early form of Blitzkrieg warfare that would be utilized against the Russian people so many years later. Even the mighty Persians struggled against them, attesting to just how effective they were on the battlefield.

The Scythian culture was nomadic in nature. Many lived out of carriages that were the precursors of the wagons settlers used in America centuries later in their expansion westward. Instead of money, they used horses in trade and to buy goods. And there was even a subsection of their population that was exceptional at farming, especially tilling.

Though the only recorded history of the Scythians came from the in-depth accounts of Ancient Greeks, archeologists