Russia is the largest country on the planet, a multi-ethnic empire, a great power of global significance. For much of its history it has been a 'peasant state', in which peasant society and values interacted critically with those of the ruling elites. In modern times its society has produced artists, writers, musicians, scientists and cosmonauts who have made a unique contribution to world culture. In the twentieth century, Russia has been the scene of the world's greatest social experiment - the most powerful challenge ever mounted to hegemonic Western values.

Roger Bartlett traces the history of the country from its beginnings in Kiev Russia, through the Muscovite and Imperial, Soviet and post-Soviet periods, to the start of the twenty-first century. While offering a broad perspective on Russia's historical development, Bartlett focuses on the origins of Russian political culture and the place of the majority peasant population in the Russian/Soviet polity. Lucid, balanced and authoritative, it is the ideal introduction for all those with an interest in Russia's past, and its significance for the country's present.

'A well-organized and balanced overview.' - Robert Weinberg, Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania 'An accurate, up-to-date and accessible survey.' - Shane O'Rourke, University of York 'A very compact and readable history of the development of Russian people and state from mediaeval origins to the post-soviet period until the emergence of Putin. This is altogether an extremely useful, balanced and authoritative work. - Brian Cooper, Mainstream East-West Christian Understanding '...it would be hard to think of a better book of its kind.' - Simon Dixon, University of Leeds, UK

ROGER BARTLETT is Professor Emeritus of Russian History at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London, UK.