860AD |
AD Cyrillic alphabet, based on the Greekalphabet, is invented. |
862 |
Rurik, a Scandinavian chief, assumes control of EasternSlavic lands around Novgorod. |
882 |
Kiev and Novgorod were united as the state of Kievan Rus. |
988 |
Vladimir I converts to Orthodox Christianity and makes Eastern Orthodoxy the official religion. |
1147 |
Moscow is founded as a defense outpost. |
1223 |
Mongol (Tartar) armies invade Russia. |
1480 |
Ivan III frees Russia from Tatar control. Moscow becomes the most powerful Russian city. |
1547 |
Ivan IV (at age 17) known as Ivan the Terrible is crowned tsar and expands Russia’s territory. |
1613 |
Mikail Romanov becomes tsar, beginning more than 300 years of Romanov rule of Russia. |
1649 |
Serfdom established. |
1689 |
Peter I (Peter the Great) assumes full power as tsar and begins transforming Russia into a world power. |
1703 |
Peter I founds the new capital city of Saint Petersburg and increases ties with Europe. He introduces many elements of Western culture into Russia in an attempt to modernize the country. |
1762 |
Catherine II, (Catherine the Great) becomes tsarina and expands Russia’s power. |
1812 |
Napoleon I of France invades Russia and advances as far as Moscow, but is eventually forced to retreat. |
1825 |
Nicholas I becomes tsar; Decembrist Revolt (an attempt to overthrow the government) fails. |
1861 |
Alexander II abolishes serfdom in Russia. |
1891 |
Building of the Trans-Siberian Railway begins. |
1905 |
Nicholas II agrees to establish a popularly elected assembly, or Duma, following a massacre by government troops of peaceful protestors known as “Bloody Sunday”. |
1914 |
Russia enters World War I against Germany and Austria-Hungary and suffers a series of crushing defeats. |
1917 |
A popular revolution ousts Nicholas II from power ending Romanov dynasty.The Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, seize power. |
1918 |
Nicholas II and his family are executed. Russia withdraws from World War I.The Bolsheviks win control of the country in the Russian Civil War. |
1922 |
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), which includes Russia is formed and becomes the most powerful Communist country in the world. |
1924 |
Lenin dies; Joseph Stalin becomes leader and begins purges of Communist party members. |
1941 |
Germany invades Soviet Union; Soviet Union joins western Allies against Germany |
1945 |
World War II ends. Cold War begins. |
1961 |
Berlin Wall built: first manned orbital space flight by Yuri Gagarin. |
1989 |
Berlin Wall taken down; Cold War ends. |
1991 |
The collapse of the USSR. Russia becomes an independent nation, under President Boris Yeltsin. |
2000 |
Vladimir Putin elected president of the Russian Federation |
