The Story of Russia

Recent events have drawn the attention upon Russia, a country of which but little is known here, because the intercourse between it and the United States has been limited. In my frequent journeys to the Far East, I found it often difficult to comprehend events because, while I could not help perceiving that the impulse leading to them came from Russia, it was impossible to discover what prompted the government of the czar. I felt the necessity to study the history of Russia, and found it so fascinating, that I resolved to place it in a condensed form before the students in our schools. They must be the judges of how I have succeeded. R. Van Bergen . CONTENTS. The Realm of the Czar Early Records of Russia The Norsemen (or Varingians) in Russia Saint Vladimir and Iaroslaf the Great A Russian Republic Troublous Times The Yellow Peril Russia Under the Mongol Yoke Lithuania and Moscow Decline of the Tartar Power. Dmitri Donskoï Ivan III, the Great Russia becomes an Autocracy Ivan IV, the Terrible Russia Under Ivan the Terrible Feodor, the Last of Rurik's Descendants Michael Feodorovitch (Son of Theodore) the First Romanof Early Years of Peter the Great (Peter Alexievitch) Peter the Great and His Reign Peter the Great and His Time The Successors of Peter the Great Russia Under Catherine II (the Great) Russia During the Wars of Napoleon An Eventful Period Alexander II, the Liberator Great Events During Alexander's Reign Nihilism Alexander III, the Peasants' Friend Russia Methods: The War with Japan The Origin and Growth of The Asiatic Empire Russian Methods. The War with Japan Russia Loses her Prestige THE STORY OF RUSSIA. I—THE REALM OF THE CZAR. When we think of our country, we feel proud of it for other and better reasons than its great size. We know how its extent compares with that of other nations; we know that the United States covers an area almost equal to that of Europe, and, more favored than that Grand Division, is situated on the two great highways of commerce, the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Europe is as far from the latter, as Asia is from the former; and these highways, powerful means toward creating prosperity, remain at the same time barriers whereby nations that find greater delight in the arts of war than in those of peace, are restrained from disturbing our national progress.