About the book: 2014 / Volga region, Ural, Siberia Far East. We are accustomed to perceive these regions as a familiar and integral part of Russia. This was not always the case. Russia became Russia, breaking out of the narrow confines of the Moscow principality. Russian Cossacks, warriors and explorers, went to the East to create a great empire, which we inherited from our great ancestors. From Kazan to distant Yamal and Chukotka, our country grew in just a few centuries. We have all heard about the colonial empires of European powers, but few people thought that we live in a country that was not only able to create a country occupying 1/6 of the land, but also maintain it, where by competent policy, where by military force, and where Russia was helped happy accident. For the first time, in a simple and popular form, this book tells how the Empire was created. The famous writer, publicist and blogger Lev Vershinin is known as the author of a number of political and popular science books. With his work, which will be a real gift for everyone interested in Russian history, we begin the “Collecting the Empire” series. You will find a detailed and fascinating story from the best authors about how Russia, in the fire of wars, in the iron tread of Cossack troops and in the whisper of diplomatic missions, turned from the distant European outskirts into the greatest Empire