A Concise History of Russia

This book provides students and general readers with a broad overview of Russian history from the ninth century to the present.

Paul Bushkovitch (Author)

9780521543231, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 5 December 2011

518 pages, 20 b/w illus. 6 maps
21.6 x 13.7 x 3.3 cm, 0.6 kg

'Bushkovitch avoids the pitfalls of generalization, giving a neat and succinct overview of many different areas that manages to be clear and concise without sacrificing too much detail.' George Gilbert, European History Quarterly

Accessible to students, tourists and general readers alike, this book provides a broad overview of Russian history since the ninth century. Paul Bushkovitch emphasizes the enormous changes in the understanding of Russian history resulting from the end of the Soviet Union in 1991. Since then, new material has come to light on the history of the Soviet era, providing new conceptions of Russia's pre-revolutionary past. The book traces not only the political history of Russia, but also developments in its literature, art and science. Bushkovitch describes well-known cultural figures, such as Chekhov, Tolstoy and Mendeleev, in their institutional and historical contexts. Though the 1917 revolution, the resulting Soviet system and the Cold War were a crucial part of Russian and world history, Bushkovitch presents earlier developments as more than just a prelude to Bolshevik power.

1. Russia before Russia
2. Moscow, Novgorod, Lithuania, and the Mongols
3. The emergence of Russia
4. Consolidation and revolt
5. Peter the Great
6. Two empresses
7. Catherine the Great
8. Russia in the age of revolution
9. The pinnacle of autocracy
10. Culture and autocracy
11. The era of great reforms
12. From serfdom to nascent capitalism
13. The golden age of Russian culture
14. Russia as an empire
15. Autocracy in decline
16. War and revolution
17. Compromise and preparation
18. Revolution in Russian culture
19. Building Utopia
20. War
21. Consolidation and stagnation
22. Soviet culture
23. The Cold War
Epilogue: the end of the USSR.

Subject Areas: European history [HBJD]