Other Expanding Empires

Although the Russian Empire was located on the eastern fringe of Christendom where it was remote, cold and in the forests, the empire grew and Russians dominated the forests and grasslands of northern Asia. This expansion that also spread westward that brought many Germans, Ukrainians, Baltic and other people into the Russian Empire. The Russians were primarily focused on the nomadic pastoral people that were established in the south and east Russian heartland. The Russians felt as if they had to an agricultural security issue because the Mongol Empire that had recently disappeared, was known to raid agricultural Russian neighbors and sell them into slavery. In the East, across Siberia, Russians was opportunity because of the "soft gold" of fur-bearing animals. The pelts from the animals were highly wanted by many people in the world market and Russians saw this as a great opportunity to make good trading exchanges with others around the world.The Russian empire became so huge, it stretched across the pacific and they used wooden forts that protected their frontier towns, trading centers and protection for many Russian farmers. Not only did Russians take over a huge amount of land that belonged to others, but they eventually took over Siberia and the steppes with the help of Russian military power. The Russians demanded an oath from the natives, swearing an oath of "eternal submission to the grand tsar" which at the time, was the monarch of Russia. Also some type of tribute paid with money or with something of value. In Siberias case, this meant paying with fur. Many people were pressured into converting to Christianity since tax breaks, exemptions of paying tribute and land or cash was offered.

I find it interesting how even today, the Russians question whether they were actually destined to follow other well constructed European Cities or was it more based on Slavic and Asian power taking the Russian Empire back to the beginning. The difference between the British and Spanish conquest of the "New World", was that they arrived at a place they had never been before. The Russians on the other hand, were already in contact with the lands they overtook and remained intact until nineteen ninety-one, which was when the Soviet Union fell. The Spanish and British received independence a long time ago.