Tsarist Russia

Tsarist Russia refers to the period when Russia was ruled by emperors known as tsars, from the 16th century until the 1917 Revolution. This autocratic system centralized power in the tsar, who claimed divine right to rule. The society was stratified, with a wealthy nobility and a vast peasantry living in poverty. Industrialization began in the late 19th century, leading to unrest among workers and calls for political reform. The culmination of discontent resulted in the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II during World War I, paving the way for the Bolshevik Revolution and the establishment of a communist government.