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Russia Engages the World, 1453-1825
1453 Through the Reign of Ivan the Terrible (1533-1584) The Time of Troubles to the First Romanovs (1598-1682) Peter the Great and His Legacy (1682-1762) The Age of Catherine the Great (1762-1801) The Reign of Emperor Alexander I (1801-1825)

This chronology is not comprehensive but rather provides reference points for the history presented in Russia Engages the World, 1453–1825.

From the Fall of Constantinople (1453) through the Reign of Ivan the Terrible (1533–1584)

The Time of Troubles to the First Romanovs (1598–1682)

Peter the Great and his Legacy (1682–1762)

The Age of Catherine the Great (1762–1801)

The Reign of Emperor Alexander I (1801–1825)

The Rulers of Russia, 1425–1823

Russia's Globalization: A Key

Events marked Russia Symbol are specific to Muscovy/Russia's internal development. 
Those marked World Symbol are important world historical or cultural events.
Engagement Symbol indicates specific points of sociocultural or military engagement between Muscovy/Russia and foreign powers or individuals.


1587 World Symbol The reign of Shah ‘Abbas I (r. 1587–1628) begins; it will represent the apogee of the Safavid state in Persia, which will exist until 1722.
1591 Russia Symbol Dmitrii of Uglich, the last Rurikid heir, dies.
1596 World Symbol The union of Brest establishes the Uniate Church, a church with the rites of Eastern Christian Orthodoxy, but with allegiance to Rome.
1598–1613 Engagement Symbol A succession crisis in Russia, known as the "Time of Troubles," precipitates economic dislocation and political disarray, leading to a period marked by famine, invasion by Sweden and Poland, and popular revolt.
1613 Russia Symbol Mikhail Romanov (r. 1613–45), the first of the dynasty that will rule Russia until 1917, becomes Emperor.
1603 World Symbol The Tokugawa Ieyasu becomes Shogun in Japan; the Tokugawa rule until 1867.
1620  World Symbol English settlers land on Cape Cod.
1626 World Symbol Manhattan Island is purchased from the Native Americans by the Dutch West India Company.
1628 World Symbol Shah Jahan (r. 1628–1658), builder of the Taj Mahal, becomes ruler of the Mughal Emperor centered at Delhi.
1643 World Symbol Louis XIV, the “Sun King” (r. 1643–1715), becomes king of France.
1644 World Symbol The Ming dynasty collapses.
1648 World Symbol The treaty of Westphalia ends the Thirty Years' War.
1649 Russia Symbol The first systematized code of Muscovite laws since 1550 is adopted.
1654 Engagement Symbol Tsar Aleksei appoints Fedor Baikov first Muscovite ambassador to China.
1667 Engagement Symbol Russia acquires Kiev and large areas of Poland-Lithuania through the Treaty of Andrusovo.