Who are the Russian people and how did their vast county come into being? Russia’s history, like its climate, oscillates between extremes. It has generated great wealth, but its people have largely lived in poverty. It has enjoyed great power status since the 18th century, yet it has consistently felt itself under threat. It has grown to become the largest nation on earth, but it repeatedly seeks to extend its rule and influence beyond its borders. It has produced some of the greatest cultural icons in music, literature, architecture and art, but freedom of expression has rarely been a feature of its society. Its people have a remarkable kindness, yet generation after generation have been marked by seemingly intolerable suffering and repression. So how are we to understand Russia and its people?
This course takes a multi-dimensional approach to Russian history looking at its rulers, systems of government, people, culture, wars and society.