Category:Russia



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 A.D.-1725 A.D.), 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. Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904 A.D.-05 contributed to the Revolution of 1905 A.D., which resulted in the formation of a parliament and other reforms. 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 A.D. of the imperial household. The Communists under Vladimir Lenin seized power soon after and formed the USSR. The brutal rule of Iosif Stalin (1928 A.D.-53) strengthened Communist rule and 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 A.D.-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 Russia and 14 other independent republics. The primary language is Russian, but there are many other minority languages.

Rus"sia, n.

Defn: a country of europe and asia. Russia iron, a kind of sheet iron Made in russia, having a lustrous blue-black surface. -- russia leather, a soft kind of leather, made originally in russia But now elsewhere, having a peculiar odor from being impregnated with An oil obtained from birch bark. It is much used in bookbinding, on Account of its not being subject to mold, and being proof against Insects. -- russia matting, matting manufactured in russia from the inner Bark of the linden (tilia europæa).