This course explores Russia's dramatic history from medieval to contemporary times. It features fearsome leaders from Ivan the Terrible to Stalin and reformers from Peter the Great to Gorbachev. Thematically, it examines the centrality of war, geopolitics, and revolution in Russia's history. As a case study of geopolitics in action, the course investigates the dangerous "Great Game" played between Russia and other Great Powers for dominance in Central Asia. The Revolution of October 1917 ushered in Lenin's utopian socialist experiment. Stalin's collectivisation, forced industrialisation and the purges, however, destroyed the economy utopian dreams. For all its flaws, the USSR still played the critical role in defeating Hitler in World War 2. Studying Russia's history provides important clues for understanding the challenges Russia faces today in a new geopolitical scenario.