Russia: A Short History

by Abraham Ascher

Overview

Distinguished Professor Abraham Ascher offers an impressive blend of engaging narrative and fresh analysis in this perennially popular introduction to Russia.

Newly updated on the 100th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution, Russia: A Short History begins with the origins of the first Slavic state, and continues to the present-day tensions between Russia and its neighbours, the rise of Vladimir Putin, and the increasingly complex relationship with the United States.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781786071422
Publisher:	Oneworld Publications
Publication date:	10/10/2017
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	662,908
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Abraham Ascher is Distinguished Professor of History at the Graduate School of the City University of New York. A highly respected scholar, he is the recipient of numerous awards, and the author of more than thirty articles and seven books, including The Russian Revolution: A Beginner's Guide and Stalin: A Beginner's Guide (both Oneworld). He lives in New York

Table of Contents

	Preface	viii
	Maps	x
1	The Beginnings	1
	Geography	4
	The rise of Kiev	6
	Kiev's economy	9
	The emergence of the Mongol empire	14
	Mongol domination	16
2	The Rise of Muscovite Russia	21
	Challenges to Mongol rule	24
	Moscow's expansion	28
	Ivan the Terrible	33
	Reign of terror	37
3	Times of Troubles and Grandeur, 1584-1725	43
	Social conditions	49
	Religious conflict	54
	Peter the Great	56
	The Westernizer	58
4	Decline and Revival in the Eighteenth Century	66
	The reign of Catherine II	70
	Paul I	77
5	Russia as a Great Power, 1801-55	80
	Napoleon's invasion of Russia	82
	Domestic reform	89
	Political ferment	93
	Tsar Nicholas I	96
	Domestic developments	101
	The Crimean War	105
6	Reform and Counter-Reform, 1861-94	109
	Judicial, administrative, and military reform	114
	Consequences of reform	116
	Deepening of political ferment	120
	Counter-reform	125
7	Revolutionary Russia, 1894-1917	131
	The revolution of 1905	136
	Outcome of the revolution	143
	Stolypin's reforms	148
	World War I	152
	The revolution of 1917	158
	The revolution deepens	162
	The Bolsheviks seize power	166
8	The Soviet Union Under Lenin and Stalin	170
	The Tenth Party Congress	173
	Struggle for power	176
	Revolution from above	180
	Totalitarianism	186
	Stalinist terror	189
	Everyday Stalinism	193
	Stalin's last years	198
9	Reform, Stagnation, Collapse	202
	De-Stalinization	204
	Foreign policy under Khrushchev	210
	Era of stagnation	213
	Era of reform	219
	Economic crisis	223
	Political collapse	227
	The presidency of Boris N. Yeltsin	231
	Political tensions	234
	The presidency of Vladimir Putin	239
	Notes	244
	Bibliography	246
	Index	253

Editorial Reviews

"A brilliant balancing act. A comprehensive introduction for the general reader."

Rusistika

"Lively, well-paced and thoroughly reliable, it elegantly weaves economic, social and cultural themes into a political narrative. A first-class introduction to the subject."

University of Essex Steve Smith - Professor of History

"So concise and comprehensive history is a rare accomplishment. Ideal for a general reader seeking a clear, coherent narrative on the history of Russia from its origins to the present."

Brandeis University Gregory Freeze - Victor and Gwendolyn Beinfield Professor of History

"A coherent account of Russia’s vibrant history, explaining the complex story of Russian development with great clarity. Vividly illuminates Russia’s past and shows how it has contributed to its troubled present."

Peter Waldron - Professor of Modern History- University of East Anglia

"A coherent account of Russia's vibrant history, explaining the complex story of Russian development with great clarity. Vividly illuminates Russia's past and shows how it has contributed to its troubled present." ---Peter Waldron, Professor of Modern History, University of East Anglia

From the Publisher