Muscovite Russia

Muscovite Russia was the precursor to the modern Russian state, centered around the city of Moscow from the 14th to the 16th century. It evolved from a collection of principalities into a unified, expanding territory that gradually gained independence from Mongol rule. Under leaders like Ivan the Great, Muscovy consolidated power, modernized its administration, and expanded its borders, laying the groundwork for the Tsardom of Russia. This period marked the transition from medieval fragmentation to centralized monarchy, setting the stage for Russia’s emergence as a major empire.