Russia...
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Overview:
Founded in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy, was able to emerge
from over 200 years of Mongol domination (13th-15th centuries) and to
gradually conquer and absorb surrounding principalities. In the early 17th
century, a new Romanov Dynasty continued this policy of expansion across
Siberia to the Pacific. Under PETER I (ruled 1682-1725), hegemony was
extended to the Baltic Sea and the country was renamed the Russian Empire.
During the 19th century, more territorial acquisitions were made in Europe
and Asia. Repeated devastating defeats of the Russian army in World War I led
to widespread rioting in the major cities of the Russian Empire and to the
overthrow in 1917 of the imperial household. The Communists under Vladimir
LENIN seized power soon after and formed the USSR. The brutal rule of Josef
STALIN (1928-53) strengthened Russian dominance of the Soviet Union at a
cost of tens of millions of lives. The Soviet economy and society stagnated in
the following decades until General Secretary Mikhail GORBACHEV (1985-91)
introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt
to modernize Communism, but his initiatives inadvertently released forces
that by December 1991 splintered the USSR into 15 independent republics.
Since then, Russia has struggled in its efforts to build a democratic political
system and market economy to replace the strict social, political, and
economic controls of the Communist period. While some progress has been
made on the economic front, recent years have seen a recentralization of
power under Vladimir PUTIN and an erosion in nascent democratic
institutions. A determined guerrilla conflict still plagues Russia in Chechnya.
Population: 143,420,309
Location:
Northern Asia (that part west of the Urals is included with Europe), bordering
the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean
Map references:
Asia
Area:
Total Area: 17,075,200 sq km
Land Area: 16,995,800 sq km
Comparative Area: approximately 1.8 times the size of the US
Capital:
Moscow
National holiday:
Russia Day, 12 June (1990)
More Russia Facts...
More Tips on Traveling to Russia...
Overview:
Founded in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy, was able to emerge
from over 200 years of Mongol domination (13th-15th centuries) and to
gradually conquer and absorb surrounding principalities. In the early 17th
century, a new Romanov Dynasty continued this policy of expansion across
Siberia to the Pacific. Under PETER I (ruled 1682-1725), hegemony was
extended to the Baltic Sea and the country was renamed the Russian Empire.
During the 19th century, more territorial acquisitions were made in Europe
and Asia. Repeated devastating defeats of the Russian army in World War I led
to widespread rioting in the major cities of the Russian Empire and to the
overthrow in 1917 of the imperial household. The Communists under Vladimir
LENIN seized power soon after and formed the USSR. The brutal rule of Josef
STALIN (1928-53) strengthened Russian dominance of the Soviet Union at a
cost of tens of millions of lives. The Soviet economy and society stagnated in
the following decades until General Secretary Mikhail GORBACHEV (1985-91)
introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt
to modernize Communism, but his initiatives inadvertently released forces
that by December 1991 splintered the USSR into 15 independent republics.
Since then, Russia has struggled in its efforts to build a democratic political
system and market economy to replace the strict social, political, and
economic controls of the Communist period. While some progress has been
made on the economic front, recent years have seen a recentralization of
power under Vladimir PUTIN and an erosion in nascent democratic
institutions. A determined guerrilla conflict still plagues Russia in Chechnya.
Population: 143,420,309
Location:
Northern Asia (that part west of the Urals is included with Europe), bordering
the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean
Map references:
Asia
Area:
Total Area: 17,075,200 sq km
Land Area: 16,995,800 sq km
Comparative Area: approximately 1.8 times the size of the US
Capital:
Moscow
National holiday:
Russia Day, 12 June (1990)
More Russia Facts...
More Tips on Traveling to Russia...