Chapter I: Preface

Recent events have drawn the attention upon Russia, a country of which but little is known here, because the intercourse between it and the United States has been limited. In my frequent journeys to the Far East, I found it often difficult to comprehend events because, while I could not help perceiving that the impulse leading to them came from Russia, it was impossible to discover what prompted the government of the czar. I felt the necessity to study the history of Russia, and found it so fascinating, that I resolved to place it in a condensed form before the students in our schools. They must be the judges of how I have succeeded.

R. VAN BERGEN.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. The Realm of the Czar 13

II. Early Records of Russia 23

III. The Norsemen (or Varingians) in Russia 29

IV. Saint Vladimir and Iaroslaf the Great 41