An authoritative history of Russia from early Rus' to the beginning of the reign of Peter the Great. Leading historians offer a comprehensive account of the formative 'pre-Petrine' period of Russian history, before the process of Europeanisation had made a significant impact on society and culture.

1. Introduction Maureen Perrie; 2. Russia's geographical environment Denis J. B. Shaw; Part I. Early Rus' and the Rise of Muscovy (c.900-1462): 3. The origins of Rus' (c.900-1015) Jonathan Shepard; 4. Kievan Rus' (1015-1125) Simon Franklin; 5. The Rus' principalities (1125-1246) Martin Dimnik; 6. North-eastern Russia and the Golden Horde (1246-1359) Janet Martin; 7. The emergence of Moscow (1359-1462) Janet Martin; 8. Medieval Novgorod V. L. Ianin; Part II. The Expansion, Consolidation and Crisis of Muscovy (1462-1613): 9. The growth of Muscovy (1462-1533) Donald Ostrowski; 10. Ivan IV (1533-84) Sergei Bogatyrev; 11. Fedor Ivanovich and Boris Godunov (1584-1605) A. P. Pavlov; 12. The peasantry Richard Hellie; 13. Towns and commerce Denis J. B. Shaw; 14. The non-Christian peoples on the Muscovite frontier Michael Khodarkovsky; 15. The Orthodox Church David B. Miller; 16. The law Richard Hellie; 17. Political ideas and rituals Michael S. Flier; 18. The Time of Troubles (1603-13) Maureen Perrie; Part III. Russia under the First Romanovs (1613-89): 19. The central government and its institutions Marshall Poe; 20. Local government and administration Brian Davies; 21. Muscovy at war and peace Brian Davies; 22. Non-Russian subjects Michael Khodarkovsky; 23. The economy, trade and serfdom Richard Hellie; 24. Law and society Nancy Shields Kollmann; 25. Urban developments Denis J. B. Shaw; 26. Popular revolts Maureen Perrie; 27. The Orthodox Church and the Schism Robert O. Crummey; 28. Cultural and intellectual life Lindsey Hughes; Bibliography.