Russia is the largest country in the world in terms of area. It is located on the continent of Eurasia, has access to three oceans - the Pacific, Arctic and Atlantic. Russia is a permanent member of the UN Security Council and is part of the G8, a group of eight most developed and influential states.
Instructions
Step 1
The name "Russia" comes from the word "Rus", which was first encountered in the writings of the Byzantine emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus, who ruled in the 10th century. Historians are still arguing about the origin of the term "Rus" and about the nationality of the legendary prince Rurik. This can only be judged with varying degrees of certainty. The sources are ancient chronicles, for example, the famous "Tale of Bygone Years", created by a monk of the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery at the beginning of the 12th century.
Step 2
According to the chronicle data, in 862 the Varangian prince Rurik was called to reign by the inhabitants of North-Western Russia. And in 882, the Novgorod prince Oleg, an associate of Rurik, who had died by that time, seizing power in Kiev, united the lands of the northern and southern Slavs under his rule and laid the foundation for a powerful state - Kievan Rus. As a result of successful military and diplomatic activities, Kievan Rus became the largest state in Europe. Alas, then it broke up into separate principalities.
Step 3
The ensuing period of feudal fragmentation was accompanied by frequent and bloody civil strife. And as a result of the ruinous Mongol-Tatar invasion, part of the principalities fell under the rule of the Golden Horde, and part - under the rule of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The Novgorod lands managed to preserve and defend their independence.
Step 4
From the beginning of the XIV century, a new center of power gradually began to take shape - the Moscow principality. Carrying out a skillful and cautious policy, the Moscow princes gradually became more and more influential. The victory of Prince Dmitry Donskoy on the Kulikovo field in 1380 over the army of Khan Mamai showed the weakness of the Golden Horde. And after "Standing on the Ugra" in 1480, the Mongol-Tatar yoke officially ceased.
Step 5
In 1547, Grand Duke Ivan IV, who went down in history with the nickname "Terrible", took the title of tsar. Under him, the borders of the state expanded significantly, the Kazan and Astrakhan khanates were conquered, the development of Siberia began.
Step 6
In Europe, the Russian state was called Muscovy. This continued until the era of Peter the Great. Having achieved his main goal (access to the Baltic Sea), Peter renamed the state into the "Russian Empire". This happened in 1721. Since then, the term "Russia" has become international.
