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Jan 1, 600
Slavs Settle North European Plain
In the AD 600s, Slav farmers, fishers, and hunters settled near waterways on the North European Plains. This is the very beginning of Russia's history. -
Jan 1, 1200
Mongols Invade Slav Territories
The Mongols invaded Kiev and other Slav territories. They allowed the territories self-rule, but they mantained control for over 200 years. Many Slavs fled to the Moskva River during these invasions, and their settlements there became Moscow, which was the center or the territory Muscovy. Muscovy kept peace with the Mongols for approx. 2 centuries. -
Period: Jan 1, 1200 to Jan 1, 1400
Mongols Control Russia
The Mongols invaded Kiev and other Slav territories. They allowed the territories self-rule, but they mantained control for over 200 years. Many Slavs fled to the Moskva River during these invasions, and their settlements there became Moscow, which was the center or the territory Muscovy. Muscovy kept peace with the Mongols for approx. -
Jan 1, 1462
Prince Ivan III the Great Rules
He brought more Slav territiories under his control, and his expanded realm was known as Russia. He fills Moscow with churches & palaces, and he builds Kremlin, a fortress that is today used as the headquarters for the Russian Federation. -
Period: Jan 1, 1462 to Jan 1, 1505
Prince Ivan III the Great Rules
He brought more Slav territiories under his control, and his expanded realm was known as Russia. He fills Moscow with churches & palaces, and he builds Kremlin, a fortress that is today used as the headquarters for the Russian Federation. -
Jan 16, 1533
Czar Ivan IV the Terrible's Reign
Ivan the Great's Grandson, Ivan IV, was the first crowned czar of Russia at the mere age of 16. He was not terrible in the beginning, but a change of character came in the middle of his rule. He erradicated anyone who showed any facet of being disobedient or disloyal, and he expanded the country's border into non-Slav lands. His horrible manner earned him his nickname. After his reign, the country faced social upheaval, foreign invasion and economic troubles. -
Period: Jan 16, 1533 to
Czar Ivan IV the Terrible's Reign
Ivan the Great's Grandson, Ivan IV, was the first crowned czar of Russia at the mere age of 16. He was not terrible in the beginning, but a change of character came in the middle of his rule. He erradicated anyone who showed any facet of being disobedient or disloyal, and he expanded the country's border into non-Slav lands. His horrible manner earned him his nickname. After his reign, the country faced social upheaval, foreign invasion and economic troubles. -
Romanov Dynasty Comes to Power
They eventually tightened their grip on the people, and they ruled for about 3 centuries. Under them, Russia became and remained a world super power. -
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Romanov Dynasty Rules
They eventually tightened their grip on the people, and they ruled for about 3 centuries. Under them, Russia became and remained a world super power. -
Czar Peter I Comes to Power
He was determined to modernize Russia. Under his power, Russia strengthened their military, developed trade with western Europe, and expanded their reign. In order to gain seaports, Peter I acquired land from Sweden along the Baltic Sea. Under his rule, the capital of Russia was moved to St. Petersburg, giving the country a "window on the west." -
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Peter the Great's Reign
He was determined to modernize Russia. Under his power, Russia strengthened their military, developed trade with western Europe, and expanded their reign. In order to gain seaports, Peter I acquired land from Sweden along the Baltic Sea. Under his rule, the capital of Russia was moved to St. Petersburg, giving the country a "window on the west." -
Empress Catherine the Great
One of the most noteworthy rulers of Russia, she married Peter in the middle of the 1700s. This generous and humble ruler attained a warm-water port on the Black Sea for the country along with instituting much-needed reform policies. Many non-Russians were also brought under Russian rule at this time. Roman nobility began to adopt to western European ways. but Catherine was intent on keeping the Russians Russian. -
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Empress Catherine the Great's Reign
One of the most noteworthy rulers of Russia, she married Peter in the middle of the 1700s. This generous and humble ruler attained a warm-water port on the Black Sea for the country along with instituting much-needed reform policies. Many non-Russians were also brought under Russian rule at this time. Roman nobility began to adopt to western European ways, but Catherine was intent on keeping the Russians Russian. -
Czar Alexander Frees the Serfs
While the serfs attained their deserved liberty, they were poor and had no way of getting an education. Many moved to cities and were faced with the challenges of poor conditions and wages that wouldn't support their needs. Their challenges were similar to immigrant workers' struggles in the Industrial Revolution in America. -
Czar Alexander III (COMMUNISM INFLUENCE)
Russia’s prestige in foreign affairs rose to incredible new heights and Russia thrived in peace and order. The country was not involved in any wars during his reign, and he earned the name "The Peacemaker." Beginning in 1891, the construction of the Trans-Siberian railroad, which connects Moscow to Vladivostok. Russification took rise during his reign, which led to frustration and discontent of those who refused and were in turn persecuted (mainly Jews). This led to the rise of socialism. -
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Czar Alexander III Reigns
Russia’s prestige in foreign affairs rose to incredible new heights and Russia thrived in peace and order. The country was not involved in any wars during his reign, and he earned the name "The Peacemaker." Beginning in 1891, the construction of the Trans-Siberian railroad, which connects Moscow to Vladivostok. Russification took rise during his reign, which led to frustration and discontent of those who refused and were in turn persecuted (mainly Jews). This led to the rise of socialism. -
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Trans-Siberian Railroad
This 6,000 mile railroad connected Moscow to Vladvistok, expanding Russia into Siberia. One of the most important railroads in the world, it opened up Russia's interior to settlement. -
"Bread & Freedom" Protests & Revolution (COMMUNIST INFLUENCE)
Due to the hardships of World War I and other increasing nationwide tension, 100,000+ workers and even soldiers begin to strike in Petrograd demanding "bread and freedom!" After these events occured, Czar Nicholas II gave up his throne, ending the rule of the Romanov dynasty and czarist rule altogether. One year later, Nicholas and his family were killed, and this signaled the downfall of Europe's last absolute rulers and the beginning of communism in Russia with the Bolsheviks taking over. -
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Soviet Union Reign (COMMUNISM INFLUENCE)
After the Bolsheviks win of the civil war, the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) was established. They regained much of the land the country had lost after they gained power. The Soviet Union controlled most of eastern Europe and attained status as a superpower after World War II. By 1949, many countries in the regions had become satelillites. Many Russians see this as a dark part of their history, as the harsh leadership led to many deaths and all work focused to give the gov't power. -
Soviet Union is Formed (COMMUNISM INFLUENCE)
After the revolution in 1917, Vladimir Lenin, leader of the Bolsheviks, became president of Russia. They withdrew the country from the war (giving some land to Germany), took control of industry & food distribution, and established an 8-hour work day. They believed in communism, which called for an overthrow of government and a society led by the workers. A civil war began between the Bolsheviks & anti-Bolsheviks, which was won by the Bolsheviks. After their win, they established the USSR. -
Joseph Stalin Seizes Power (COMMUNIST INFLUENCE)
After Vladimir Lenin passed away, Joseph Stalin gained power and turned the USSR into a military and industrial superpower. He ruled with terror, eliminating anyone who opposed them and killing millions of people in concentration camps. He also engaged the country in the Cold War with the United States. He used communist ideas to completely take over the USSR, and after his rule, a process called de-Stalinization -
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Joseph Stalin's Leadership of USSR (COMMUNIST INFLUENCE)
After Vladimir Lenin passed away, Joseph Stalin gained power and turned the USSR into a military and industrial superpower. He ruled with terror, eliminating anyone who opposed them and killing millions of people in concentration camps. He also engaged the country in the Cold War with the United States. He used communist ideas to completely take over the USSR, and after his rule, a process called de-Stalinization -
USSR Enters WW2
Germany attacks the USSR, bringing them into World War II. The USSR emerged from this war with a greater influence on eastern and western Europe and as a world super power. -
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Cold War
The term "cold war" was first used in an essay by writer George Orwell, but it is now commonly used in reference to the technology war between the communists, USSR, and the capitalists, USA, in the 20th century. After the USA dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the USA was ahead in the arms race that began. The race to create nuclear weapons and the "space race" took place during this time, and it ended with the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 1987. -
Gorbachev Comes to Power
Mikhail Gorbachev was elected president of the Soviet Union in 1985. He promised to institute perestroika, a plan for economic restructuring, and glasnost, a policy for greater political openness. Serious weaknesses in his power base and economic troubles across the nation led to his resignment and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. -
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Vladimir Putin's Presidency
By 2000, Russia's post-Soviet economy began to get back on its feet. Putin helped to stablilize the economy by instituting labor reforms in labor, banking, and private property. The country was moving from a command economy to a market economy. He also helped Russia to become involved in NATO. However, when he was reelected, he made some changes that some viewed as slightly undemocratic. Nonetheless, he is one of the most important figures in Russia recovering from Soviet rule. -
Period: to
Cold War
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Kievan Rus is formed
Scandinavian warriors called the Varangians or Vikings settle among the Slavs living near the Dnieper & Volga Rivers. They become accustomed to Slavic culture, and soon the Slav communities were organized into a loose union of city-states ruled by princes. The leading city-state, Kiev, controlled trade routes using the country's western rivers to connect it to the Black and Baltic Seas. Fighting within the city-states eventually weakened Kievan Rus.
