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Recommended because it is a good website for combining facts with fun in discussing the relationship of the young Catherine the Great with her Russian husband whom she eventually supplanted. Be aware of that this website has links to other related periods in Imperial Russian history including a couple on Catherine (Catherine the Great's Ascent and Russia's Dark Enlightenment) as well as Peter the Great. |
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Recommended because it is a very detailed timeline of early Russian history, wonderfully organized and fully hyperlinked. The timeline is subdivided into a list of Russian rulers and within each ruler's reign important events are enumerated. Be aware of the fact that the timeline ends in 1682 because it was then that the Peter the Great came to power (although still a boy) and Russia then entered its so called "Imperial" period (since Peter declared himself Russia's first Emperor). |
Peter the Great
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Recommended because it is a brief, but engaging assessment of the reign of Peter the Great, ruler of Russia from 1682 to 1725. Be aware of that this is part of a very concise and well done series on the monarchs of the Russian Empire from the Encyclopedia Britannica. |
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Recommended because Recommended because this site has many links to subjects relating to early Russian history. Topics and materials that are hyperlinked include "General Histories and Timelines," "The Rise of the Romanovs," "Reforming Russia," and many more. Be aware that the down side of this commercial site is its many advertisements and pop-ups. Part of the History Net megasite. |
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Recommended because it is the original article from the Encyclopedia Britannica, eleventh edition. Part of a series about the Tatar Invasions. Extensive links and background information. |
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Recommended because this article is a good introduction to the controversial reign of Russian Tsar Ivan IV (1533-84), better known in the West as Ivan the Terrible. Be aware of the fact that this is is part of the BBC History Series and it contains a great number of links to other sites of interest. |
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Recommended because this exhibit features high quality photographs of precious Russian national treasures that earlier belonged to the Romanovs, the Russian ruling family. Start by clicking on Museum Tour which takes you on a guided tour of the exhibition. More importantly, in the process of showing the viewer icons, crowns, jewels, armor, and other items belonging to Russia's rulers, one gains a great deal of insight into Russian history and culture. Be aware of the fact that in the Playground of the Czars section the viewer is introduced to the Russian language, learns fun facts about Russian rulers (for example, that Peter the Great was nearly seven feet tall), as well as interesting information about the Russian church and Russian culture. A wonderful website. |
A History of Russia
Author:
Nicholas V. Riasanovsky (6th ed., 1999)
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Recommended because this is THE standard Russian history text by the distinguished historian from the University of California at Berkeley. It covers well the ancient and Medieval periods of Russian history. Availability: may be purchased in hardback from Amazon.com for $59.95. |
Catherine the Great: Life and Legend
Author:
John T. Alexander (1989)
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Recommended because Recommended because there are several good biographies of Catherine and this is one of them. It is both scholarly and accessible to the general reader. Availability: may be purchased in paperback from Amazon.com for $15.05. |
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Medieval Russia: A Source Book, 900-1700
Author:
Basil Dmytryshyn (Editor) (3rd ed., 1990)
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Recommended because Recommended as an excellent collection of historical sources to complement narrative historical accounts. Includes the Russian Primary Chronicles, government decrees, treaties, letters, memoirs, extracts from literature, etc. Availability: out of print. |
Peter the Great: His Life and World
Author:
Robert K. Massie (1980)
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Recommended because Recommended as not the most authoritative, but rather the most popular biography in English. It has the advantage of being very readable and brings the colorful Peter quite vividly to life. Availability: may be purchased in paperback from Amazon.com for $12.57. |
Russian Rebels, 1600-1800
Author:
Paul Avrich (1972)
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Recommended because Recommended for those interested in the Russian revolutionary movement, as this well-written book describes the four great rebellions (including the Pugachev uprising) which threatened the Russian state in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Availability: may be purchased in paperback from Amazon.com for $14.95. |
The Origins of Autocracy: Ivan the Terrible in Russian History
Author:
Alexander Yanov (1981)
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Recommended because Recommended as a controversial but well reasoned assessment of Ivan IVÂ’s reign by a native Russian historian. Yanov's thesis is that Russia was on the path to "normal" European development both politically and economically until Ivan the Terrible made a shambles of his country through his brutally repressive policies, dooming Russia to backwardness and poverty. Availability: used copies may be purchased in from Amazon.com starting at $6.50. |
Medieval Russian Architecture from Twelfth Century Vladimir to the Reign of Ivan the Terrible (1997)
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Recommended because world renowned expert on Russian architecture, William Brumfield, Professor of Russian Studies, Tulane University, lectures on the architectural background and various influences leading to the design and construction of the Cathedral of Vassili the Blessed on Red Square in Moscow (better known as St. Basil's). The slides presented were taken by William Brumfield (108 minutes). In English. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or write to: Keisel.1@osu.edu). Not available commercially. |
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Moscow and Leningrad: The Crown Jewels of Russia (1990)
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Recommended because this film is part of the superb "Video Visits" series. The tape starts in Moscow where the Kremlin, Red Square, Lenin's Tomb, St. Basil's Cathedral, the Bolshoi Ballet, the Moscow Circus, Gorky Park and GUM are all featured. In Leningrad one sees Palace Square, the Winter Palace with its Hermitage Museum as well as Peter the Great's fabulous retreat, Petrodvorets (50 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or write to: Keisel.1@osu.edu). Also may be purchased from Amazon.com for $24.99. |
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Recommended because this is a good, English-language film biography of Peter. It was based on Robert Massey's biography, and shot on location in Russia. Starring Maximillian Schell and Hanna Schygulla, with Vanessa Redgrave, Omar Sharif, Trevor Howard, and Laurence Olivier (380 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or write to: Keisel.1@osu.edu). Apparently out of print. |
The Riches of the Russian Empire (1997)
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Recommended because this is a fine documentary (in English) on the famed Hermitage art Museum of St. Petersburg, Russia, and its treasures. Much of the film is a history of the construction of the city of St. Petersburg and the Winter Palace, so it provides a good introduction to Russian history from Peter the Great to Catherine the Great. Very well done with an emphasis on the exotic and valuable treasures found in the Hermitage (56 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or write to: Keisel.1@osu.edu). Also may be purchased from Amazon.com for $19.95 |
Last updated: 10 February 2007
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