The Russian Empire

The Russian Empire grew from a regional principality under Ivan the Terrible into a vast Eurasian superpower stretching from Europe to the Pacific. Through ambitious rulers like Peter the Great and Catherine the Great, it expanded territory, modernized institutions, and shaped Russian culture. Yet persistent autocracy, social inequality, and military defeats exposed its weaknesses. The empire’s collapse in 1917 paved the way for the Soviet Union and continues to influence Russia’s identity and global role today.