Russia is the largest country on the planet, a multi-ethnic empire, a great power of global significance. For much of its history it has been a 'peasant state', in which peasant society and values interacted critically with those of the ruling elites. In modern times its society has produced artists, writers, musicians, scientists and cosmonauts who have made a unique contribution to world culture. In the twentieth century, Russia has been the scene of the world's greatest social experiment - the most powerful challenge ever mounted to hegemonic Western values.
Roger Bartlett traces the history of the country from its beginnings in Kiev Russia, through the Muscovite and Imperial, Soviet and post-Soviet periods, to the start of the twenty-first century. While offering a broad perspective on Russia's historical development, Bartlett focuses on the origins of Russian political culture and the place of the majority peasant population in the Russian/Soviet polity. Lucid, balanced and authoritative, it is the ideal introduction for all those with an interest in Russia's past, and its significance for the country's present.
'A well-organized and balanced overview.' - Robert Weinberg, Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania
'An accurate, up-to-date and accessible survey.' - Shane O'Rourke, University of York
'A very compact and readable history of the development of Russian people and state from mediaeval origins to the post-soviet period until the emergence of Putin. This is altogether an extremely useful, balanced and authoritative work. - Brian Cooper, Mainstream East-West Christian Understanding
'...it would be hard to think of a better book of its kind.' - Simon Dixon, University of Leeds, UK
'A coherent, balanced and chronologically ordered narration of the history of Russia ... it is emphatically recommended as a text for reading and for learning.' - Ludwig Steindorff, Jahrbücher für Geschichte Osteuropas
List of Maps
List of Tables
List of Illustrations
Preface
Acknowledgements
Note on Transliteration, Names and Dates
Introduction: The Geographical Setting
The Origins to 1600: Kiev and Sarai
1300-1600: Moscow and Novgorod: The Emergence of Empire and Autocratic Rule
1600-1760: Moscow and St Petersburg: Muscovy and the Petrine Empire
1760-1860: Russia and Europe: Apogee and Decline of the Autocratic State
1860-1917: Europe and Russia: Stabilisation and Collapse of the Autocratic State
1917-53: Russian Empire and Soviet Union: From Pariah to Superpower
1953-91: The Soviet Union as World Power: Retreat from Utopia
1991-the Present: The Russian Federation and CIS: Democracy and Free Market?
Notes
Further Reading
Index
ROGER BARTLETT is Professor Emeritus of Russian History at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London, UK.
Description
Russia is the largest country on the planet, a multi-ethnic empire, a great power of global significance. For much of its history it has been a 'peasant state', in which peasant society and values interacted critically with those of the ruling elites. In modern times its society has produced artists, writers, musicians, scientists and cosmonauts who have made a unique contribution to world culture. In the twentieth century, Russia has been the scene of the world's greatest social experiment - the most powerful challenge ever mounted to hegemonic Western values.
Roger Bartlett traces the history of the country from its beginnings in Kiev Russia, through the Muscovite and Imperial, Soviet and post-Soviet periods, to the start of the twenty-first century. While offering a broad perspective on Russia's historical development, Bartlett focuses on the origins of Russian political culture and the place of the majority peasant population in the Russian/Soviet polity. Lucid, balanced and authoritative, it is the ideal introduction for all those with an interest in Russia's past, and its significance for the country's present.
Reviews
'A well-organized and balanced overview.' - Robert Weinberg, Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania
'An accurate, up-to-date and accessible survey.' - Shane O'Rourke, University of York
'A very compact and readable history of the development of Russian people and state from mediaeval origins to the post-soviet period until the emergence of Putin. This is altogether an extremely useful, balanced and authoritative work. - Brian Cooper, Mainstream East-West Christian Understanding
'...it would be hard to think of a better book of its kind.' - Simon Dixon, University of Leeds, UK
'A coherent, balanced and chronologically ordered narration of the history of Russia ... it is emphatically recommended as a text for reading and for learning.' - Ludwig Steindorff, Jahrbücher für Geschichte Osteuropas
Contents
List of Maps
List of Tables
List of Illustrations
Preface
Acknowledgements
Note on Transliteration, Names and Dates
Introduction: The Geographical Setting
The Origins to 1600: Kiev and Sarai
1300-1600: Moscow and Novgorod: The Emergence of Empire and Autocratic Rule
1600-1760: Moscow and St Petersburg: Muscovy and the Petrine Empire
1760-1860: Russia and Europe: Apogee and Decline of the Autocratic State
1860-1917: Europe and Russia: Stabilisation and Collapse of the Autocratic State
1917-53: Russian Empire and Soviet Union: From Pariah to Superpower
1953-91: The Soviet Union as World Power: Retreat from Utopia
1991-the Present: The Russian Federation and CIS: Democracy and Free Market?
Notes
Further Reading
Index
Authors
ROGER BARTLETT is Professor Emeritus of Russian History at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London, UK.
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