"The traditional start date of specifically Russian history is the establishment of the Rus' state in the north in 862, ruled by Varangians."
The study of Slavic history includes the investigation of the origins and migration patterns of the various Slavic peoples, the development of their cultures, and the impact of external influences on their societies. Topics may include the medieval period, tsarist Russia, the Soviet Union, and the post-Soviet era.
"Prince Oleg of Novgorod seized Kiev in 882, uniting the northern and southern lands of the Eastern Slavs under one authority."
"The state adopted Christianity from the Byzantine Empire in 988, beginning the synthesis of Byzantine and Slavic cultures that defined Russian culture for the next millennium."
"Kievan Rus' ultimately disintegrated as a state due to the Mongol invasions in 1237–1240."
"After the 13th century, Moscow became a political and cultural magnet for the unification of Russian lands."
"Ivan the Terrible transformed the Grand Duchy into the Tsardom of Russia in 1547."
"The death of Ivan's son Feodor I without issue in 1598 created a succession crisis and led Russia into a period of chaos and civil war known as the Time of Troubles."
"The Time of Troubles ended with the coronation of Michael Romanov as the first Tsar of the Romanov dynasty in 1613."
"During the rest of the seventeenth century, Russia completed the exploration and conquest of Siberia, claiming lands as far as the Pacific Ocean by the end of the century."
"In 1721, Tsar Peter the Great renamed the state as the Russian Empire."
"Catherine the Great, who came into power in 1762, continued the westernizing policies of Peter the Great."
"Peasant revolts intensified during the nineteenth century, culminating with Alexander II abolishing Russian serfdom in 1861."
"A combination of economic breakdown, mismanagement over Russia's involvement in World War I, and discontent with the autocratic system of government triggered the Russian Revolution in 1917."
"In 1922, Soviet Russia, along with the Ukrainian SSR, Byelorussian SSR, and Transcaucasian SFSR signed the Treaty on the Creation of the USSR, officially merging all four republics to form the Soviet Union as a single state."
"Mikhail Gorbachev embarked on major reforms in the mid-1980s."
"...the weakening of the communist party and dissolution of the Soviet Union, leaving Russia again on its own and marking the start of the history of post-Soviet Russia."
"Coupled with economic growth, Russia has since regained significant global status as a world power."
"Russia's 2014 annexation of the Crimean Peninsula..."
"Under Putin's leadership, corruption in Russia is rated as the worst in Europe."
"Russia's human rights situation has been increasingly criticized by international observers."