In a time of war, it is more essential than ever to understand Russia's complex history as an empire and nation. This course begins during the reign of Tsar Paul I, who came to power in 1796 following the death of Catherine the Great. During the century that followed, Russia transformed from a rural country to a burgeoning industrial power. Russians witnessed the abolition of serfdom, geographic expansion, urbanization, and numerous wars. At the beginning of the twentieth century, two revolutions led to the downfall of the Romanov imperial monarchy and the birth of the Soviet state. We will study the rise of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and assess the regimes of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin, among other Soviet leaders. Our course will conclude with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the establishment of the Russian Federation, and the presidency of Vladimir Putin. Since cultural production has always been a major part of Russian history, we will study literature, paintings, posters, and advertisements from the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries to gain deeper insights about Russia and its people. Course assignments include quizzes, a midterm paper, and a final essay.