Discover the captivating history of Russia! Russia, or the Russian Federation, as it is officially known, is the world's largest country and covers almost a sixth of the global landmass. The country is often associated with harsh climates and autocratic government. The shadow of communism and the Cold War continues to influence global attitudes toward Russia. This History book serves as an overview of Russian history over the span of more than a millennium, from the foundation of the Russian state by the Viking Prince Rurik in AD 862 until the collapse of the Soviet Union at the end of 1991.
Archaeology is the study of human history using material remains. Archaeologists excavate and study features and artifacts, like this clay sculpture unearthed in Cerro de las Mesas, Veracruz, Mexico. Archaeologists determined this artifact is pre-Columbian, meaning it was created in the Americas before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492. The history of archaeology is a long and checkered one. If there is anything archaeology teaches us, it is to look to the past to learn from our mistakes and, if we can find any, our successes. What we today think of as the modern science of archaeology has its roots in religion and treasure hunting, and it was born out of centuries of curiosity about the past and where we all came from.
