Tsardom of Russia

The Tsardom of Russia was a medieval and early modern state that existed from 1547 until 1721. It began when Ivan IV, known as Ivan the Terrible, was crowned as the first Tsar, unifying various Russian territories under autocratic rule. The Tsardom expanded its borders through conquests and diplomacy, establishing Russia as a significant regional power. This period was marked by social stratification, with serfdom being widespread. The Tsardom ended when Peter the Great proclaimed the Russian Empire, adopting Western influences and modernizing the country, which transformed Russia into a major European power.