Covering the sweep of Russian history from empire to Soviet Union to post-Soviet state, this is a comprehensive yet accessible textbook that situates modern Russia in the context of world history. Moving beyond the traditional Cold War framework, it covers topics such as the construction of the socialist order under Bolshevik government and the development of a new state structure, political ideology and foreign policy in the decades since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Illustrated with images and maps throughout and containing primary sources and discussion questions in each chapter, this book is an essential introduction to twentieth-century Russian history.