jjares reviewed The Russian Empire: A Captivating Guide to the Third-Largest Empire in History, Starting from Peter the Great to the Russian Revolution on + 3270 more book reviews
At its height, the Russian Empire spanned from Poland to the Pacific. One of the fascinating stories is how Moscow came to look upon itself as the Third Rome of Christianity -- after Rome and Constantinople. Once the other two empires fell, Moscow considered themselves to be the direct inheritors of the Roman Empire.
Another very interesting tale was that of the Livonians (A Knights of the Templar-type of military knights sanctioned by the Catholic Church). I was stunned to learn that they had a different mission than the Templars and Hospitallers. They were sent to Eastern Europe to crush paganism.
Ivan the Terrible and Anastasia Romanovna were the basis of the Romanov Dynasty. Sometimes, it is the right time for something -- I'm sure I was aware of this basis of the Romanov's but the way this author included this info really registered.
Different rulers tried to modernize Russia; various points were made about how backward Russia's military was. But the continuing problems of the poverty of the serfs (and their inability to better themselves by trying other jobs) really dragged on the economy.
It was surprising to learn how many times the Russians and Ottomans fought each other. When history is laid out in such an overview, it is easier to see the trends. Overall, this is a great companion piece to Captivating History's previous, THE HISTORY OF EASTERN EUROPE.
Another very interesting tale was that of the Livonians (A Knights of the Templar-type of military knights sanctioned by the Catholic Church). I was stunned to learn that they had a different mission than the Templars and Hospitallers. They were sent to Eastern Europe to crush paganism.
Ivan the Terrible and Anastasia Romanovna were the basis of the Romanov Dynasty. Sometimes, it is the right time for something -- I'm sure I was aware of this basis of the Romanov's but the way this author included this info really registered.
Different rulers tried to modernize Russia; various points were made about how backward Russia's military was. But the continuing problems of the poverty of the serfs (and their inability to better themselves by trying other jobs) really dragged on the economy.
It was surprising to learn how many times the Russians and Ottomans fought each other. When history is laid out in such an overview, it is easier to see the trends. Overall, this is a great companion piece to Captivating History's previous, THE HISTORY OF EASTERN EUROPE.
