Considered the best concise history of Soviet Russia, and rich in maps, tables, and basic statistical data, this text offers holistic coverage of the last phase of the Tsarist regime, the ideological roots and origins of the Soviet regime, its establishment in power at the close of 1917, its evolution up to 1991, its disintegration, and the current Russian Federation. In addition, the Sixth Edition broadens its perspective by including other political movements in Russia, vital activities of exiled intellectuals, and the latest coverage of the Orthodox Church. It also gives considerable attention to 10 years of the post-communist period, up to the first 3 years after Vladamir Putin's accession to power in 1999.