The growth of Russia from city states to world power. ( )

up to peter the great. ( )

A very good survey of the people who became Russia. I went on to study Russian history in college and this book had an influence on me. ( )

Time-Life's history of Russia, from several centuries B.C. to near-modern times. As usual, the editors do a fine job of bringing history to life. And considering that the Cold War was in full swing at the time the book was written, this is a sympathetic and fairly objective look at a country that most Americans of the day considered an enemy with whom war was one day inevitable. ( )