The Russian Empire

The Russian Empire was a vast, multi-ethnic state that existed from 1721 until 1917, covering much of Eastern Europe, Northern Asia, and parts of North America. It was ruled by an emperor called the Tsar, who held absolute power. The empire expanded through conquest and diplomacy, becoming one of the world's largest empires. It was known for its rich cultural heritage, complex social hierarchy, and economic reliance on agriculture and resource extraction. Political unrest, social inequality, and modernization pressures contributed to its decline, culminating in the Russian Revolution of 1917, which led to the formation of the Soviet Union.