This book provides a comprehensive survey of Russia's tragic and glorious history from prehistory through glasnost and the fall of the Soviet Union right up to the present day. The book begins with prehistoric Russia and its nomadic invaders, and covers the rise of Muscovy with its colorful panoply of rulers from Ivan Moneybags to Ivan the Terrible, despotism of the Romanovs, and the Russian Revolution.


Then follows an account of the rise of the Soviet state, its world role and recent changes. The up-to-the-minute conclusion analyzes the Soviet collapse and its devolution into 15 separate republics, the tragedy of the Chechen War, and Vladimir Putin's election. "While destination oriented visitors will gain much from this expose, students and others will find it a fine, easy method of absorbing Russian history." -Bookwatch