A Slide History of Russia and the USSR to 1945
These slides sketch the history of Russia and the USSR from the rise of Kievan Rus circa 800 to the triumph of the Soviet Union in World War II in 1945. They explore history through maps, art, photographs, and brief text entries. This series is currently under development and will be updated occasionally.
Our Slides So Far...
Evolution of Russia and the USSR, 800 to 1945
Before Russia: Kievan Rus, 800 to 1272
Origins of Rus Lands, 800-900
The Varangians as Rulers of Novgorod, c. 862
Kievan Rus, 900
Rus Myths: The Bogatyrs, Heroic Warriors
Kievan Rus, 900-1054
Prince Oleg Beseiges Konstantinoupolis, 907
Legend of the Death of Prince Oleg, 912
The Rus Convert to Orthodox Christianity, 988 (legendarily)
Yaroslav the Wise (1019) and Anna Yaroslavna (1051)
Saint Sofyi Cathederal in Kiev, completed before 1054
Rus Lands, 1054-1132
12th Century Icons of St. Georgiy, Yurev Monastery, Novgorod
Mstislav I, Mistislav the Great; 1076-1132
Natural Terrain of Russia and Nearby Areas
The Fall of the Rus Lands: Mongol Invasions, 1223-1242
Mongol Invasions, 1223-1242
Tribute or Else
Murder of Grand Prince Mikhail, 1318
Aleksandr Nevskiy
Slavery in Rus Lands and Russia
Grand Principality of Moskva
Principality of Moskva, 1300
Courtyard of a Rus Prince
Grand Principality of Moskva, 1300-1380
Prince Ivan I becomes Grand Prince, 1328; Ivan Moneybags
The Battle of Kulikovo, 1380
Grand Principality of Moskva, 1380-1505
Rus and Russian Monasteries
The Fall of Konstantinoupolis, 1453
Third Roma, after 1453
Ivan III Repudiates the Horde, 1476 (apocryphal scene)
Novgorod the Great is Humbled, 1471
Cossacks
Tsardom of Russia
Moskva & Tsardom of Russia, 1505-1547
What's in a Name: Principality, Tsardom, Empire
Rus, Russia, and Alcohol
Tsardom of Russia, 1547-84
Ivan the Terrifying's Wars of Conquest
The Oprichniki: Murder and Mayhem
Ivan the Terrifying Kills His Son, 1581
Rise of the Russian Orthodox Church, 1448-1589
Tsardom of Russia, 1584-95
The Coronation of Boris Godunov, 1598
Tsardom of Russia: The Time of Troubles, 1598-1618
The Time of Troubles
Russian Renewal: The Rise of the Romanovs, 1613
Tsardom of Russia, 1618-89
The Conquest of Siberia
Access to the Sea and Warm Water Ports
The Church: Reform and Schism, from 1654
Schism and Rebellion
new!Russian Empire
new!Tsardom into Empire, 1689-1721
new!Pytor the Great: In War, in Peace, and in Cruelty
new!Pytor the Great: In War, in Peace, and in Cruelty
new!Pytor the Great: In War, in Peace, and in Cruelty
bonus! Map of Rus, Russia, and the USSR to 1945
For almost all major modern browsers, the above image is an animated map of the evolution of Kievan Rus, Russia, and the USSR to 1945. Enjoy! Unfortunately, if you use Microsoft Edge, you will only see a still image, as Microsoft does not support animated PNG files.