Now fully updated to 2001, this is an authoritative and highly readable introduction to a thousand years of Russian history. From the formation of the Russian state in the 14th century to the political power struggles of the 1990s and the uncertainties of the new millennium, this new history offers a fresh and systematic account of Russian history across six tumultuous centuries. Drawing on the best contemporary scholarship, thirteen international experts reassess and reinterpret the history of one of the world's great powers. For too long Russian history has been dominated by myths and counter-myths, concocted by those seeking either to legitimize the existing order or to destroy it. New insights into areas previously cloaked in secrecy and an extraordinarily rich array of illustrations, make this book essential reading for anyone interested in Russia and its place in the world. "[A] brisk, exciting tour of Russia's long journey from its Kievan origins to the early Yeltsin years...stunningly beautiful illustrations and transparent prose."--The Los Angeles Times