The Synthesis of "Ivan the Terrible"

Explore the reign of Ivan the Terrible, Russia's first crowned tsar, known for his vast territorial expansion and brutal reign of terror.

An overview of the Tsardom of Russia (1547-1721), the era of Ivan the Terrible and Peter the Great that saw vast expansion and autocratic rule.

Discover the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396), a dominant medieval Balkan power that experienced a golden age of culture and military might.

An overview of the Great Northern War (1700-1721), the pivotal conflict that shattered Swedish supremacy and marked Russia's rise as a major European power.

Explore the Russian Empire, one of history's largest empires, from its founding by Peter the Great to its dramatic fall in the 1917 Revolution.

Explore the rise and dramatic fall of the House of Romanov, the last imperial dynasty that ruled Russia for over 300 years until their execution.

Discover Peter the Great, the transformative tsar who dragged Russia into the modern era with sweeping reforms, military expansion, and a new capital.

Explore the Rurik dynasty, the Viking-descended rulers who founded the Kievan Rus' and shaped the course of Russian history for over 700 years.

The story of Grigori Rasputin, the Siberian mystic whose influence over the Russian royal family helped pave the way for revolution.

A look at the 1709 Battle of Poltava, a decisive clash that ended Sweden's empire and marked the rise of Russia as a major European power.