On this page: General Resources | Ivan the Terrible | Peter the Great | Catherine the Great | Folktales
general resources
▶️ Where did Russia come from? from TED-Ed. Russia is the biggest country in the world, spanning one-eighth of the earth’s landmass. But where did it all begin? Alex Gendler explores the epic history of the Kievan Rus, where characters ranging from Viking raiders and Western crusaders to Byzantine missionaries and Mongol hordes all played a role to create a unique civilization standing at the crossroads of culture and geography. – All
▶️ Russia, the Kievan Rus, and the Mongols from Crash Course. “In which John Green teaches you how Russia evolved from a loose amalgamation of medieval principalities known as the Kievan Rus into the thriving democracy we know today … It turns out, our old friends the Mongols … brought the Kievan Rus together under a single leadership, and concentrated power in Moscow. This set the stage for the various Ivans (the Great and the Terrible) to throw off the yoke and form a pan-Russian nation ruled by an autocratic leader. More than 500 years later, we still have autocratic leadership in Russia. All this, plus a rundown of some of our favorite atrocities of Ivan the Terrible, and a visit from Putin!” – Middle • High
ivan the terrible
📖 Ivan the Terrible: A Wicked History by Sean Price. This entry in the excellent Wicked History series takes on the life and legacy of the first Tsar of Russia, Ivan IV, better known as Ivan the Terrible. Perfect for older students. – Middle • High
peter the great
📖 Peter the Great by Diane Stanley. This is a nice picture book biography of Peter the Great, who made strides toward modernizing Russia and establishing the nation as a European power during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. – Elementary • Middle
catherine the great
📖 Catherine the Great: A Wicked History by Zu Vincent. This Wicked History title takes a look at the fascinating life of Catherine the Great, who ruled Russia during the second half of the 18th century. It’s a fast-paced, exciting read. The last chapter, entitled Wicked?, takes a clear-eyed look at the good and bad of Catherine’s legacy. Highly recommended for older students. – Middle • High
folktales
📖 The Magic Gold Fish: A Russian Folktale by Demi. In this classic tale from Russia, a poor fisherman catches a magic fish who can grant wishes; the fisherman’s greedy wife demands more and more riches, until the fish has had enough. – Preschool • Elementary
📖 The Sea King’s Daughter: A Russian Legend by Aaron Shepard. Here is a beautifully illustrated retelling of the legend of the musician Sadko. An endnote gives historical information about the Russian folk tradition and about the city of Novgorod, where this story is set. – Elementary • Middle
