This comprehensive work traces the origins and development of the Russian Empire, covering everything from its early history, through the reign of Catherine the Great, to its role in European politics and beyond. Drawing on a wide range of sources, including original documents and contemporary accounts, this book provides a fascinating insight into one of the world's most powerful nations. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.