Russia, a country with a very high profile in the world, is known to the vast majority of people. Russia is not only the largest country in the world, but also very powerful militarily, and is the only country that can compete militarily with the United States. However, in recent years, Russia has not developed well, and the economy can be said to have been declining. Many people find it difficult to revive the economy in the current state of Russia. But in fact, if we look at the history of Russia, it is really easy for this country to rise. Simply put, every once in a while Russia rises, and it rises very quickly.
Russia's predecessor was the Principality of Moscow. The plains of Eastern Europe were originally ruled by the Principality of Kiev and many small states, the most powerful of which was the Principality of Kiev. In 1237, the Mongols attacked these small states. In 1240, the Principality of Kiev was occupied by the Mongols. The Mongols established the Golden Horde here, and all the small states in the eastern European plains were subject to the Mongols and subject to Mongol rule. It was at this time that the Muscovite Principality was established. After the establishment of the Muscovite Principality, the initial strength was average, and it also submitted to the Mongols, and paid tribute to the Golden Horde Han Kingdom. However, during this period, the muscovite principality became stronger and stronger, constantly annexing the small surrounding countries, and its strength continued to grow.
In 1328, Ivan I, Grand Duke of Moscow, was granted the right to tax the Mongols. With this right, the Muscovite Principality evaded taxes and became stronger and stronger. Of course, the Mongols conquered it after seeing the rise of the Muscovite Principality, and it once again became the Mongol sphere of influence. It is reasonable to say that this principality will not rise again, but in fact it is not the case. In the 15th century, the Muscovite principality took advantage of the contradictions between the various princes and constantly annexed other princes. By 1478, the Moscow Duke had publicly challenged the Golden Horde and no longer paid tribute to the Golden Horde. The Mongols themselves were confused, how dare they now think of challenging the country that had not been conquered by themselves for a long time. So the Golden Horde sent troops to attack the Muscovite Principality, and as a result the Muscovite Principality was victorious, and the Mongol rule over the Muscovite Principality came to an end.
This is the first time the Russians have risen. Although it was still called the Principality of Moscow at this time, it was the ancestor of the Russians after all. It is estimated that the Mongols never dreamed that the rise of this country would be so fast. The rise of the Muscovite Principality at this time, only free from Mongol rule and formal independence, was not particularly powerful. However, this time independence laid the foundation for later strength. From here, it can also be seen that the Principality of Moscow is still relatively powerful, and when it is weak, it should be endured and slowly accumulate strength. After the strength is strong, it is really possible to start attacking the Mongols.
The rise of the Muscovite principality did not attract the attention of the European powers, after all, its strength was not particularly strong. He was even bullied by Poland, Sweden and other countries at one time. In the face of Russia's rise, European countries do not care. At the end of the 17th century, Peter I came to the throne and began to carry out reforms in Russia. Reforms in a country in Europe's most marginalized region are easy to overlook. But when people began to pay attention to Russia, the country rose again.
The reforms of Peter I covered a wide range of aspects. Political, economic, military, cultural, educational, scientific and technological and other fields, through this reform, Russia began to move closer to Europe, embarked on the road of modern times, and its strength has further increased. Russia began to expand abroad, and Peter I defeated Sweden and gained access to the sea on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, which was of great significance to Russia. Peter I then defeated Persia and acquired lands west of the sea and on the south shore.
In the following decades, Russia's territory expanded. By the time of Catherine II's reign, Russia had annexed crime, right-bank Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, and Courland from Turkey and Poland, and partitioned Poland. Russia's strength is constantly growing. This is russia's second rise.
Russia's rise this time has achieved great things territorially. However, the gap between Russia and Western European countries at this time was still very large. Politically, economically, culturally, or militarily, Russia is far less developed than the West. Therefore, Westerners still look down on Russia.
Now look at the third rise of Russia, this time related to Napoleon. After the rise of Napoleon, it can be said that it swept across Europe. Aside from the failure of the expedition to Britain, Napoleon had little rivals in Europe. However, although the British defeated the French at sea, they had little influence on Napoleon on land. In 1812, Napoleon attacked Russia in eastern Europe with an army of 600,000. For Napoleon's action, many people thought that Napoleon would succeed. After all, France is far stronger than Russia. Moreover, Napoleon's military command ability was first-class in the whole world, and it could be said that it was normal to defeat Russia.
But what everyone did not expect was that Russia did not confront Napoleon's attack head-on, but continued to retreat and clear the field. Napoleon was eventually dragged to death by the Russians, and the 600,000-strong army returned with only 20,000 or 30,000 remnants left. In this battle, Russia completely shocked the whole of Europe. Russia then became a European gendarme, meddling in any European affairs everywhere. Moreover, Russia's territory at this time also continued to expand externally, occupying a large territory in Central Asia and attacking Ottoman Turkey to obtain many lands. Russia was really a hegemonic presence in Europe at that time, and this hegemony was created suddenly, without any warning. After all, no country ever cared about Russia.
Of course, this time it is the United Kingdom that is more depressed. Britain tried everything to defeat France, and now Russia is reaping the benefits of the fishermen.
After russia's rise this time, it did not stop its external expansion until the Crimean War. This time, Russia was deeply taught by Britain and France and knew what an industrial country was. At this time, everyone found that Russia was a golden jade and its cousin was defeated. Although Russia has been expanding outwards and looks like a military giant, its internal economy, culture, and politics lag far behind that of Western European countries.
I thought Russia would be honest for a while in this defeat, but this was not the case. After Russia's failed westward expansion, it began to reflect on itself. Serfdom reforms were carried out, capitalism in Russia developed rapidly during this time, and society developed further. Moreover, Russia immediately turned around and attacked the Qing Dynasty to the east, and obtained nearly two million square kilometers of territory from the Qing Dynasty, and incorporated Outer Mongolia, Northeast China, and the Korean Peninsula into its sphere of influence.
This time, russia's rise is really faster than everyone expected. Compared with the previous three times, Russia's rise this time is not very strong. But the time was very fast, and in a very short period of time, it took advantage of many advantages from the hands of the Qing Dynasty, the hegemon of East Asia. This is the fourth time Russia has risen.
Britain and France probably never imagined that Russia would expand so quickly and rise too quickly. After all, Russia was defeated very badly in the Crimean War, and now it is not only recovered, but also much stronger than before.
But russia's rise didn't last long. In 1905, the Russo-Japanese War broke out, and Russia was defeated by the newly rising Japan. This is the first time in modern times that the yellow race has defeated the white race. And the sea supremacy that the Caucasians prided themselves on also began to be shaken by Japan. The war had an important impact on the whole world situation, and the Romanov dynasty, which had ruled Russia for three hundred years, began to waver.
After the outbreak of World War I, although Russia participated in the war, it was defeated by the Germans on the eastern front. In particular, Germany's army on the Eastern Front was far less numerous than the Russian army, and the combat effectiveness of the Russian army was far inferior to that of Germany. After the October Revolution, in order to achieve the victory of the revolution, Soviet Russia had to sign the Humiliating Brest Treaty with Germany. This treaty severely weakened Russia's national strength. If it were not for the defeat of Germany in World War I, the result of Russia behind it would really be unimaginable.
At this time, Russia can be said to have entered a period of low ebb again, and its strength has once again declined. Between the fourth rise and the fifth rise, Russia has been in decline almost always, which is still relatively rare in Russian history.
Look at the fifth rise of Russia, which is the Second World War. After Russia withdrew from World War I, the country experienced a long civil war. Although Russia eventually established a socialist regime, it was faced with a situation of poverty and whiteness, and the gap between Russia and the West widened further. However, after the establishment of the Soviet Union, a highly centralized political and economic system was established, under which the Military, Economic, and Cultural Aspects of the Soviet Union developed rapidly. At the beginning of World War II, the Soviet Union had the largest industrial output in Europe, after the United States. No one could have imagined that the Soviet Union would go from a backward agrarian country to a powerful industrial country in just two decades.
At the beginning of World War II, Germany swept through Europe. Although the sea lion plan was unsuccessful, the British were beaten by Germany and curled up in the British Isles and unable to fight back. After the outbreak of the Soviet-German War, as with Napoleon's previous expeditions to Russia, it was thought that the Soviet Union would be wiped out by Germany. After all, Germany's record in Europe is too conspicuous and has not been defeated. However, Germany's attack on the Soviet Union this time, like the last Time France attacked Russia, not only did not destroy Russia, but was also defeated by Russia. The Soviet Union not only defeated Germany, but also constantly counterattacked, liberating many countries in Eastern, Southern and Central Europe, and occupying the German capital Berlin. Later, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan, Japan surrendered, and World War II ended.
After the end of the Second World War, everyone suddenly found that the Soviet Union at this time had once again risen. And it became a country with terrible military power, and only the United States could compete with the Soviet Union. Russia, which had been silent for half a century, rose rapidly. And this time it is not hegemony over Europe, but the hegemony of the world. However, this is not the last rise of the Russians, and russia will rise again.
At this time, although the Soviet Union could compete with the United States, it could not compete with the United States in other aspects such as economy and politics. Especially in the military aspect, this has always been the shortcoming of the Soviet Union, and many people know it. But when Russia rose for the sixth time, economic power shocked everyone.
Russia rose for the sixth time, this time around the 1970s, during the Brezhnev period. As before, the rise of the Soviet Union this time still shocked everyone. During the Brezhnev era, the Soviet Union not only surpassed the United States in military strength, but also the gap between the United States militarily and the United States became smaller and smaller. At this time, the Soviet Union had a great tendency to flatten the United States. It can be said that the economic rise of the Soviet Union was indeed a miracle.
Of course, the rise of the Soviet Union did not last long, and by the 1980s, the Soviet Union's strategy of external expansion could not be maintained, and internal contradictions became more and more serious, and eventually disintegrated.
Now look at the seventh rise of Russia, which was Russia in the early 21st century. The Soviet Union collapsed, and Russia inherited the Soviet Union's international status. However, russia's internal affairs at that time were very chaotic, and the economy was getting worse every day. At this time, except for russia, which is the largest country in the world and has a large number of nuclear weapons, it is completely incomparable with the Western powers. Many people think that it will take a long time for Russia to recover its economy. Especially during Yeltsin's presidency, he tried everything to save Russia's economy, but to no avail.
But as we entered the 21st century, things changed. Russia's economy continued to rise, its internal affairs gradually stabilized, and Russia became one of the BRICS countries. By around 2013, Russia's GDP reached $2.29 trillion, ranking eighth in the world for GDP, and Russia's economy was once again on the rise. Moreover, Russia at this time also had military strength that could compete with the United States.
This is the general historical situation in Russia. In fact, after reading it, we can find that no matter what kind of environment this country is out of, how many countries are suppressed, it will rise when you are not paying attention. By the time you find him, he's become a hegemonic being. This is the real Russia. Perhaps it is for this reason that many European countries are afraid of Russia. Although the current Russian economy is not very good because of sanctions, we can see from the history of Russia that the rise can be said to be inevitable.
After all, Russia's advantages are very obvious, and its education level and industrial level are world-class. And there are also abundant resources, which can be said to be what is wanted. And Russia has risen in a much worse situation than this in history, and it feels that at no time can it stop the rise of this country.
General History of the World, Overview of Russia