Rurik, a semi-legendary Scandinavian warrior, establishes "Russ" or "Rhos" state at Novgorod.

Ivan III the Great, begins annexing surrounding areas, builds autocratic state; religious leaders proclaim Moscow "the third Rome" - heir to Rome, of Constantinople.

Peter I (the Great) Russia's first emperor; creates modern European power; promotes Western culture, builds new capital, St Petersburg. He built his famous "funny flotilla in Pereslavl for his own amusement, including the so-called, Peter’s Little Boat, which would be considered the forefather of the Russian fleet.

End of the Russian Monarchy.

Soviet Union hosts Summer Olympics in Moscow.

Dmitri Medvedev is elected President , succeeding Vladimir Putin. Medvedev nominates Putin as prime minister.

Grand Duke Vladimir I becomes Eastern Orthodox.

Ivan IV (the Terrible) the first czar, begins annexation of Siberia. The main reason for exploring Siberia was to extract furs from the people living there. Russians did not trade for furs but imposed a tax in furs on local peoples. The pursuit of furs lead Russian explorers across the continent to the Pacific ocean by the middle of the seventeenth century.

Catherine II (the Great) turns Russia into one of strongest powers in Continental Europe.

Germany invades Russia.

General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev attempts to improve faltering economy with glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring)Soviet Union disintegrates; Russian Federation formed.

The Mongols (Tatars) under Batu Khan, invade, devastated Russia.

Michael Romanov becomes czar, founds dynasty that rules until 1917. When Tsar Mikhail Romanov defeated the joint forces of the Lithuanians and Poles in 1612 he accredited his victory to Lady of Kazan, to whom he had prayed on numerous occasions. In the 1620s he funded the building of wooden cathedral on the site where you will find Kazan Cathedral in Moscow today.

Revolution of 1905 forces Nicholai II to accept a parliament constitution.

Soviets launch world's first manned space flight. Yuri Gagarin March was a Soviet cosmonaut who on April 12, 1961 became the first person in space and the first person to orbit the Earth. At such a young age he was truly a hero to Russia and his last words were believed to be "I fly for the USSR”.

VLadimir Putin elected President. Winning the right to host the Winter Olympic Games at the Black Sea resort Sochi, viewed by many as one of Putin's major achievements, during his eight years as president.