The Awesome History of Russia

  • Feb 11, 1547

    St. Basil's Cathedral

    St. Basil's Cathedral
    Czar Ivan IV commissioned the building of St. Basil’s Cathedral.
  • Czar Peter the Great's Accomplishments

    Czar Peter the Great's Accomplishments
    Through 1725, Czar Peter the Great gave freedom to the lower class, and moved Russia’s capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
  • Napoleon Fails

    Napoleon invades Russia unsuccessfully.
  • Czar Alexander II's Accomplishments

    Czar Alexander II modernizes Russia by: freeing the serfs, building railroads, modern banking systems, giving freedom of the press, and establishing a jury system.
  • Russians Oppose Czars

    Russians began to oppose the czar through the end of the 1800’s.
  • Czar Nicholas II Becomes Czar

    Czar Nicholas II Becomes Czar
    Nicholas II reluctantly becomes the Czar of Russia at age 26.
  • Trans-Siberian Railroad

    Trans-Siberian Railroad
    The Trans-Siberian railroad was completed. It was 4,500 miles long! That’s longer than the United States.
  • The Duma

    Czar Nicholas II created a constitutional monarchy by establishing the Duma, an elected parliament, giving voice to the people of Russia
  • Losing Control of the Army

    There had recently been many riots due to food shortages. Czar Nicholas II ordered his army to stop the riots, but the army joined the riots instead. Czar Nicholas II is losing control of his army.
  • USSR Established

    USSR Established
    USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or Soviet Union) was established.
  • Joseph Stalin

    Joseph Stalin became the sole dictator of the USSR.
  • Cold War

    Cold war began, and would last for about forty more years.
  • Berlin, Germany: Captured!

    USSR took over Berlin, Germany.
  • Berlin Wall

    Berlin Wall
    Berlin wall has “fallen.”
  • Vikings Settling

    Vikings Settling
    Vikings from Sweden cross the Baltic Sea and settle west of the Ural Mountains (present day Russia).
  • Absolute Monarchy Created

    Absolute Monarchy Created
    Up to the 1500’s, they set up small farming communities and they later became known as the Rus, or Russians. Russia became an absolute monarchy.