The impulse of the empire had failed until the Emperor was no more than one of a number of competing princes, and the dream of Christendom also was a fading dream. ... Perhaps the same reflections will illustrate the fall of that mighty empire and explain the probable causes of our actual security. ... The flying tribes who yielded to the Huns assumed in their turn the spirit of conquest; the endless column of barbarians pressed on the Roman Empire with accumulated weight and, if the foremost were destroyed, new assailants instantly replenished the vacant space. ... From the Gulf of Finland ...

• Word Count: 2009
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Graduate

The Alcoholic Empire: Vodka and Politics in Late Imperial Russia Patricia Herlihy begins her book with an attention grabbing quote from a Russian temperance priest stating that "There is nothing in the world worse than drunkenness." (1) This blunt phrase sets the tone of the book and prepares the reader for an up close and frankly detailed look at the role of alcohol in Russian history in all areas, including the economic, religious, social and political realms. ... This book also fit nicely into the class's recent discussions about Nicholas II, and provides some background for events t...

• Word Count: 1133
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

However, with growing industrialisation, a corrupt system had to be put in place to prevent any downfall of their dynasty. ... Tsar Nicholas II and Alexandra were the foundation for the downfall of the Romanov dynasty and the Russian Revolution of 1917. Tsar Nicholas II was never ready for the tasks that awaited him as the autocratic ruler of a vast empire. ...

• Word Count: 1574
• Approx Pages: 6

The Balkans were under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, the "Old Man" of Europe, which was declining from power. The interest of expansionism of major European powers such as Russia, Great Britain, and France was a probable cause of the decline of the Ottoman Empire. ... During the reign of Nicholas II, the autocratic principle was not fully exercised, leading to the downfall of Tsarist Russia. ... In 1812, Russia gained an immense amount of publicity and praise as she was the first country to bring Napoleon Bonaparte to his knees which eventually led to his downfall. ... The Ottoman Empire...

• Word Count: 2499
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

For a greater part of the 20th century Russia was under communistic rule. It was not until the late 50s where their communistic ways became a hazard for other countries; United States. Their role as communists did not affect nations in their early years of the 20th century. Russia had multiple leade...

• Word Count: 851
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

We can be sympathetic towards him because of the size of his empire but some of his problems were his own fault. ... Many people thought that this was unfair and tried to start a revolution to change things, but Nicholas wouldn't listen to them and circumstances and his poor leadership caused many problems leading to his eventual downfall. ...

• Word Count: 1294
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

It can be argued that it is not the collapse of the U.S.S.R. that led to the economic downfall, but rather it was years of poor financial responsibility by the Soviet leaders devoting as much as 17% of GDP to military spending.19 However despite these prerequisites, the actual collapse and lack of leadership was the spark leading to the economic debacle. ...

• Word Count: 1763
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Serfdom is a labor system under which most European agricultural workers lived during the Middle Ages. The term "serf" is derived from the Latin word "servus", meaning servant or slave. Most people are familiar with the term "slave" and when it is spoken of, nearly all people think back to the south...

• Word Count: 3296
• Approx Pages: 13
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

In the course of a morning, the morning of Blood Sunday, Nicholas II had lost the trust of his people and sown the seeds of his own downfall 12 years later. ... While Nicholas was away at war, he deputized his wife to oversee affairs of the empire. ...

• Word Count: 1936
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School