Welcome to RussianEsprit.com

Where we celebrate the approach to life of the Russian People through their culture, art, buildings, and customs.

• What was to become Russia started in the 12th century with the founding of the Principality of Muscovy. The region was then dominated by Mongols for over 200 years from the 13th to the 15th century. Eventually Muscovy overcame this foreign rule and began to conquer and absorb surrounding principalities.
• In the early years of the 17th century, a new Romanov Dynasty came to rule Russia. The policy of expansion was continued until Russia stretched across to Siberia and the Pacific - 11 time zones.
• Territorial expansions were made under several rulers across Europe and Asia building the Russian Empire. This ended abruptly in 1917 with the overthrow of the Imperial Household in the Bolshevik Revolution.
• The Communists under Vladimir Lenin seized power and the USSR was formed. Josef Stalin from 1928 to 1953 strengthened the dominance of Russia over the rest of the Soviet Union.
• The Soviet economy remained moribund for decades until Mikhail Gorbachev introduced measures to attempt to modernize communism. These moves however led to the loss of central rule from Moscow and now what was the USSR is split into 15 independent republics.

Russian rocket on launch pad - note how it is suspended, the "clamp" being released when thrust is high enough for the rocket to rise under its own power.

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Gzhel Porcelain Samovar