Russian History: A Very Short Introduction

by Geoffrey Hosking

Overview

Russia's sheer size has made it difficult to mobilize resources and to govern effectively, especially given its harsh climate, vast and vulnerable borders, and the diversity of its people. In this Very Short Introduction, Geoffrey Hosking discusses all aspects of Russian history, from the struggle by the state to control society to the transformation of the nation into a multi-ethnic empire, Russia's relations with the West, and the post-Soviet era. Hosking, a leading international authority, examines Russian history in an impartial way, arguing that "Good Russia" and "Bad Russia" are one and the same. He also evaluates important individuals in Russian history, from Peter the Great and Catherine II to Lenin and Stalin.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199580989
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	04/07/2012
Series:	Very Short Introductions
Edition description:	Original
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	4.20(w) x 6.70(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Geoffrey Hosking is Emeritus Professor of Russian History at University College London.

Table of Contents

Introduction1. Kievan Rus and the Mongols2. The Formation of the Muscovite state3. The Russian Empire and Europe4. The Responsibilities and dangers of Empire5. Reform and revolution6. The Soviet Union's turbulent rise7. The Soviet Union: triumph, decline and fallChronologyFurther ReadingGlossary