Land area: 6,562,078 sq mi (16,995,800 sq km); total area: 6,592,772 sq mi (17,075,200 sq km)

Population (2006): 142,893,540 (growth rate: –0.4%); birth rate: 9.9/1000; infant mortality rate: 15.1/1000; life expectancy: 67.1; density per sq mi: 22

Capital City: Moscow

Monetary unit: Ruble

Languages: Russian, others

Ethnicity/race: Russian 81.5%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 3%, Chuvash 1.2%, Bashkir 0.9%, Byelorussian 0.8%, Moldavian 0.7%, other 8.1% (1989)

Religions: Russian Orthodox, Islam, others

Russia has undergone many upheavals in the course of the century. It has moved from being a huge empire ruled by a centuries-old monarchy to a Communist superpower which shaped world politics for decades until the Union collapsed and Russia became a post-industrial, post-modern nation, much weakened and struggling to achieve a semblance of its former glory.

Russia is a country with a rich and inspiring history and an uncertain and exciting future. Russian Art has been gaining popularity in the West. There's evidence of ever growing international interest in the rich and varied talents of Russian and Soviet artists.

The years of the Middle Ages in Russia are from the adoption of Christianity in 989 until the early 19th century. Byzantine heavily influenced Russian culture with the construction of cathedrals but Russia's size let pagan practices last for several centuries in rebellious principalities. The conversion brought with it translated literature which created a renaissance in Russian writing traditions. The Roman empire which began influencing Russian architecture in the 11th century created a synthesis of ideas and styles.

An invasion by Batu Khan (1237-1240) established authoritarian rule and quickly adopted Islam, abandoning the animist Mongol beliefs and nomadic culture. This turning point in history continues to influence centralized Russian politics to this day.

The architecture that evolved in Russia reflected many cultures. Yet, from onion domes to neo-gothic skyscrapers, a distinctively Russian style emerged. Russia's early architecture was primarily wood. During the first century AD, churches were also constructed of logs.

The reign of Ivan IV (the Terrible) brought a brief resurgence of interest in traditional Russian styles. To honor Russia's victory over the Tatars at Kazan, the legendary ruler erected the exuberant St. Basil's Cathedral just outside the Kremlin gates in Moscow. After the reign of Ivan IV, architecture in Russia borrowed more and more from European rather than Eastern styles.